Freak weather highlights infrastructure weakness

2.26.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Aug 2004

Commenting on the Marine Conservation Society's call for warning signs on beaches to protect bathers from pollution caused by storms and flooding, Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, said:

"It is quite clear that the largely Victorian sewerage system which we still rely upon, resilient though it is, is simply not able to deal with the increasing frequency and range of freak weather events.

Climate change is putting the infrastructure under tremendous strain. I support measures to try to alert people to the dangers, but in the end sticking plasters can only go so far."