Would CaRT cope?

The Environment Agency have been very much in the news in recent days, regarding their management of flooding rivers. Their lack of dredging on the Parrett in Somerset has come under particular scrutiny, and the Thames between Oxford and London has flooded in many places, writes David Davis.

In all the news coverage so far, I have seen no mention at all that, if things had gone as planned, these navigable rivers would already be under the control of the Canal & River Trust, and this is still planned to happen by 2015.

Able to cope?

Would/will CaRT be able cope with their flood management responsibilities for these rivers? Given their current maintenance budget shortfall for their canals, surely the answer is almost certainly ‘No'?