Aggregate Industries back new Government Taskforce
Company offers full support of its experts and capabilities to newly created Floods Resilience Taskforce
LAST month saw the launch of a new Floods Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather. The Taskforce will co-ordinate flooding preparation and provide long-term, strategic thinking to better protect communities.
The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Floods Minister Emma Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, local resilience forums, mayoral offices, emergency responders, and the National Farmers Union, among others.
The group will use its collective experience and knowledge to identify and protect vulnerable areas, including championing the delivery of drainage systems, flood defences, and natural flood-management schemes in communities.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said: ‘For far too long the delivery of flood schemes has been too slow and left communities underwater. That is why the new Government is acting now to speed up the building of flood defences and bolster our emergency response.’
Speaking during Flood Action Week (14–20 October), Lee Sleight, chief executive officer of Aggregate Industries, commented: ‘A £5.2 billion commitment was made by government in 2020 to protect vulnerable locations across England. From our experience over many years working with the Environment Agency to fortify the UK coastline, it has been clear that the enormity of the challenge has demanded much more than this investment.
‘The recent formation of the Floods Resilience Taskforce is a sure sign the new Government acknowledges its vital duty of care to drive flood defence projects much harder. We fully support this move and offer the support of our experts and capabilities so that we together can innovate, fortify and safeguard the resilience of our coastlines for generations to come.’
Kaziwe Kaulule, managing director of Aggregate Industries’ Aggregates division, which supplies materials for river and coastal flood defences, added: ‘The recent creation of the Floods Resilience Taskforce is a clear and reassuring signal that the Government is prioritizing developing robust solutions to fortify defences, protect communities, and ultimately secure our collective future.
‘Aggregate Industries have been at the forefront of river and coastal defences for many years, working with local authorities and the Environment Agency to confront the challenges of today’s climate emergency.
‘Demand for river and coast defence materials from our Glensanda superquarry in Scotland has risen by 65% since 2019 and we have seen a 28% increase in the past year alone supplied to vulnerable locations across the UK, such as Lincolnshire’s Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme. This equates to 108 kilotonnes of native quarried rock armour and other water management products, the equivalent tonnage needed to make more than 30 of the Thames Barrier’s steel gates.
‘With the Taskforce examining how to accelerate the implementation of flood and drainage systems, it is crucial that the Government emphasizes sustainable, nature-based solutions which balance environmental conservation with economic and social needs.
‘Although the UK as an island nation is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather, we still have an impressive stock of natural defences at our disposal across the nation’s quarries. We see a clear role here for the quarrying industry in helping the Government achieve its goals. To this end, Aggregate Industries are offering the Taskforce the full support of their experts and capabilities so that together we can work to sustainably safeguard the shores of tomorrow.’
