Environment Agency to cut staff by 1,550
The Environment Agency has said it is planning to cut the number of staff from 11,250 to around 9,700 by October, leading to fears that it will not be able to cope with serious flooding.
Environment Agency job cuts 'absolutely appalling'
Mary Dhonau, chairwoman of the Flood Protection Association, has said she is "absolutely appalled" at the news of job losses at the Environment Agency.
She told BBC Breakfast that the jobs were necessary, adding: "In this climate, and flooding is such a regular occurrence, it really is a no-brainer."
Yesterday, the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said front-line flood defences would be protected after the agency's chief executive Paul Leinster said risk maintenance would be "impacted" and work on flood warnings would "have to be resized".
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