Notice: Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board: reconstitution

The Environment Agency has submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for confirmation a scheme under Section 3 of the Land Drainage Act 1991 making provision for the following matters:

  • the reconstitution of the Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board so as to reduce the number of elected members of the Board to 12
  • matters supplemental to or consequential on that reconstitution



Notice: Wareham, Dorset: Redcliffe Banks resilience project

The Environment Agency gives notice that it proposes to carry out improvement work to 2 sections of Redcliffe Bank on the right bank of the River Frome downstream from Wareham, Dorset: approximately 77m of bank near Redcliffe Yacht Club and 110m of bank near Redcliffe boat yard (NGR SY 93503 87281). The objective is to restore the Redcliffe bank to its original design level and cross section. This is in line with the approved Poole and Wareham Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy 2013.

The proposed works will involve:

  • mobilisation of a site compound
  • removing vegetation from the crest and landward face of the embankment
  • using soil fill from landward side of the embankment to raise the bank to the required level
  • desilting the parallel Delph ditch which has become blocked and overgrown
  • placing material from desilting to bring the embankment to its final level
  • demobilising the site compound



Detailed guide: Burma: Call for Concept Notes for FCO Programme Funds FY 18/19

The objective of the FCO programme funds is to support the reform process and promote a stable, secure and prosperous Burma.

In particular, we are looking for projects under the areas below that can be carried out in FY 18/19. Multi-year projects will also be considered.

Human rights

  • Freedom of expression (including training journalists)
  • Minority rights (including ethnic, disability, and LGBT)
  • Prevention of sexual violence

Broadening engagement in politics and society

  • Women
  • Youth
  • Civil society

Respect for diversity

  • Freedom of religion or belief
  • Interfaith dialogue
  • Tackling hate speech

Economy and environment

  • Tackling illegal trade
  • Environment conservation
  • Developing understanding especially in energy, infrastructure and financial services

The FCO is seeking initial concept notes in the following three funding windows:

• Short-term responses: Activities completed within one month, including workshops or participation in meetings (about £5,000-10,000)

• Short-term programmes: Specific activities that can be completed with the annual funding cycle (less that about £75,000)

• Multi-year programmes: Programmes lasting up to two years (less than about £100,000)

Preference will be given to ‘short-term programmes’ to be completed by March 2019.

Application process

All bids should be submitted to: press.officer@fco.gov.uk by 9 April 2018. Bids will be considered by the FCO programme committee. Shortlisted organisations will be asked to submit full proposals, where further details on value for money, and work plans will be required.

Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Alignment with the provided focus areas
  • Project design, including clear and achievable impact
  • Project viability, including the capacity of implementing organisation

Please consider the below tips when designing your project:

  • Projects should start only after May 2018 and end by March 2019. Multi-year projects will also be considered.
  • Payments are deliverables-based and thus made after the completion of project activities. Advance payments are not usually possible.
  • Administration costs should be less than 10% of the overall budget.
  • We do not usually support equipment purchases.
  • We require monitoring and financial reports quarterly and a completion report at the end of the project.

If the applicant does not hear from the FCO by the end of May, the bid is unsuccessful. Due to the high volume of bids expected, it is unlikely the FCO will be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email press.officer@fco.gov.uk.

Concept Note Template




Press release: 20 years after the Northamptonshire Easter floods

The Environment Agency and its partners are calling on people to take steps to prepare for flooding and keep themselves and their families safe, 20 years after the Easter floods of 1998 caused devastation in Northamptonshire.

In 1998, an unusually wet spring led to severe flooding, with thousands of homes across the county affected. Two people lost their lives and over 150 people were hospitalised.

Northamptonshire County Council, Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Police and the Environment Agency worked together both over the course of the floods and during the recovery process. In the 20 years since Easter 1998, great strides have been made to help protect over 7,000 properties that are at risk of flooding in the county.

The EA has invested £12 million in flood risk management in Northamptonshire over the last 2 decades. This investment contributed towards the completion of a number of works, including the construction of a flood storage reservoir at Weedon and significant improvements on the flood defences at Far Cotton and St James.

The EA is planning with its partners to invest a further £1.8 million by 2021 to reduce flood risk to even more people and properties across the county.

In addition to this investment, the EA has also made progress by using modern technology to improve the way it can warn people when flooding is possible. Over 4,500 properties in Northamptonshire are now signed up to receive flood warnings via their landlines, mobile phones or email addresses through the EA’s free flood warning service.

Although the EA and its partners work around the clock to protect people and their property from flooding, the risk can never be completely eliminated. A third of properties at risk are still not registered to receive flood warnings, as residents have not signed up to the EA’s free flood warning service. The EA urges people to prepare themselves and their loved ones for flooding by signing up now.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

Flooding is always devastating for those affected, and I know this has been the case for people and businesses in Northamptonshire.

That is why we have invested almost £12m in Northamptonshire flood defences in the past 20 years with a further £1.8m planned by 2021 to reduce the risk even further for home owners and businesses.

Environment Agency Area Flood Risk Manager Ben Thornely said:

Although we can reflect on 20 years of progress being made since the significant floods of 1998, we also recognise that flooding remains a risk to local communities across Northamptonshire. Our staff and our partners work around the clock to protect people and their properties from flooding, but we can never stop the risk completely.

This is why our free flood warning service is so important. Flood warnings give people valuable time to prepare for flooding – time that allows them to move themselves, their families and precious items to safety. Our flood warnings save lives and enable the emergency services to prepare and help communities.

I’d urge residents across the county to check whether they are at risk of flooding and to sign up for flood warnings, by visiting www.gov.uk/flood or calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

Cllr Ian Morris, county council cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, said:

Working with partners as the Lead Local Flood Authority for the County, an enormous amount of work has been done in the past two decades to tackle local flood risks.

The Pathfinder projects have empowered communities to tailor-make measures for their local areas, while the award-winning Flood Toolkit provides an online resource which acts as a central point of information for all flood-related issues.

However, we cannot be complacent and we recognise that we must continue to work together with the people of Northamptonshire to further reduce flood risk.

Cllr Mike Hallam, Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet member for environment, said:

Such events can be disastrous and it can take an age to recover from the devastation they leave in their wake.

A huge amount of work has been done in the past 2 decades to minimise the risk of such an awful event occurring again in Northampton but we remain ready to offer whatever support is needed in the event that it does.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer David Harding, who served during the flooding 20 years ago, said:

As in 1998, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is there to help and protect people.

Advances in both training and equipment mean we are well prepared and equipped to respond to all emergency incidents requiring our services, including flooding, but our aim is to help prevent incidents before life is at risk. In this respect I urge everyone to help themselves and be prepared by signing up to the flood warning system.




Press release: 20 years after the Northamptonshire Easter floods

The Environment Agency and its partners are calling on people to take steps to prepare for flooding and keep themselves and their families safe, 20 years after the Easter floods of 1998 caused devastation in Northamptonshire.

In 1998, an unusually wet spring led to severe flooding, with thousands of homes across the county affected. Two people lost their lives and over 150 people were hospitalised.

Northamptonshire County Council, Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Police and the Environment Agency worked together both over the course of the floods and during the recovery process. In the 20 years since Easter 1998, great strides have been made to help protect over 7,000 properties that are at risk of flooding in the county.

The EA has invested £12 million in flood risk management in Northamptonshire over the last 2 decades. This investment contributed towards the completion of a number of works, including the construction of a flood storage reservoir at Weedon and significant improvements on the flood defences at Far Cotton and St James.

The EA is planning with its partners to invest a further £1.8 million by 2021 to reduce flood risk to even more people and properties across the county.

In addition to this investment, the EA has also made progress by using modern technology to improve the way it can warn people when flooding is possible. Over 4,500 properties in Northamptonshire are now signed up to receive flood warnings via their landlines, mobile phones or email addresses through the EA’s free flood warning service.

Although the EA and its partners work around the clock to protect people and their property from flooding, the risk can never be completely eliminated. A third of properties at risk are still not registered to receive flood warnings, as residents have not signed up to the EA’s free flood warning service. The EA urges people to prepare themselves and their loved ones for flooding by signing up now.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

Flooding is always devastating for those affected, and I know this has been the case for people and businesses in Northamptonshire.

That is why we have invested almost £12m in Northamptonshire flood defences in the past 20 years with a further £1.8m planned by 2021 to reduce the risk even further for home owners and businesses.

Environment Agency Area Flood Risk Manager Ben Thornely said:

Although we can reflect on 20 years of progress being made since the significant floods of 1998, we also recognise that flooding remains a risk to local communities across Northamptonshire. Our staff and our partners work around the clock to protect people and their properties from flooding, but we can never stop the risk completely.

This is why our free flood warning service is so important. Flood warnings give people valuable time to prepare for flooding – time that allows them to move themselves, their families and precious items to safety. Our flood warnings save lives and enable the emergency services to prepare and help communities.

I’d urge residents across the county to check whether they are at risk of flooding and to sign up for flood warnings, by visiting www.gov.uk/flood or calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

Cllr Ian Morris, county council cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, said:

Working with partners as the Lead Local Flood Authority for the County, an enormous amount of work has been done in the past two decades to tackle local flood risks.

The Pathfinder projects have empowered communities to tailor-make measures for their local areas, while the award-winning Flood Toolkit provides an online resource which acts as a central point of information for all flood-related issues.

However, we cannot be complacent and we recognise that we must continue to work together with the people of Northamptonshire to further reduce flood risk.

Cllr Mike Hallam, Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet member for environment, said:

Such events can be disastrous and it can take an age to recover from the devastation they leave in their wake.

A huge amount of work has been done in the past 2 decades to minimise the risk of such an awful event occurring again in Northampton but we remain ready to offer whatever support is needed in the event that it does.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer David Harding, who served during the flooding 20 years ago, said:

As in 1998, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is there to help and protect people.

Advances in both training and equipment mean we are well prepared and equipped to respond to all emergency incidents requiring our services, including flooding, but our aim is to help prevent incidents before life is at risk. In this respect I urge everyone to help themselves and be prepared by signing up to the flood warning system.