If we are to believe what the scientific community are saying about climate change, floods and droughts in Herefordshire will become more frequent and more extreme in the not too distant future. Recent unusually heavy rains gave us a glimpse of things to come. We saw damage to property and vehicles, long transport delays and significant difficulties for business and service providers. And, according to current predictions, we aint seen nothing yet.

The question is, how are we going to prepare for a wilder future. I can’t help thinking that our current barrier building approach to flood defence is just an expensive way of passing the problems on downstream – and it doesn’t address the issue of water conservation. The whole idea of us constantly trying to push the river away suggests that we don’t have a good relationship with it. Surely we need to work with the Wye not against it.

A number of enlightened folk are talking about the need to take a whole catchment approach to water management. For Hereford, this means starting from Plynlimon downwards. Working with the rhythm of the river would mean making better use of existing flood plains, our natural water storage areas, and creating artificial flood plains if necessary. Implicit in this approach is a withdrawal of any future planning permission for flood plain building.

Much could also be achieved through implementing land use practices which slow down run-off and control erosion, for example by building contour ridges, contour ploughing, controlled grazing and extensive deciduous woodland planting in the headwaters. At an individual level we could all practice rainwater harvesting.

But back in Hereford city, what about the immediate problems? Homes currently threatened by the Wye in flood need protection now. A non intrusive approach might be to use earth banks and timber to hold the floods at bay while other measures are put in place. Far from being unsightly, this solution could be environmentally enhancing, providing grassy mounds for locals to play, picnic and relax on.

Shirley Ali Khan