Cameron praises work of EA and the army

PRIME MINISTER David Cameron praised the Environment Agency (EA) and the military yesterday as he saw them at work shoring up essential flood defences.

During a visit to Chesil beach, which connects Portland with the Dorset mainland, Mr Cameron was shown how the 39 Engineer Regiment from Kinloss was working together with EA staff to build up the sea defences.

Mr Cameron gave his backing to the EA and would not be drawn on giving his opinion on whether Lord Smith should stay in his position at the head of the agency.

Up to a third of the shingle which makes up the sea wall at Chesil beach has been washed away in recent heavy storms. Eleven diggers were piling shingle from the water’s edge up on to the top of the 30ft-high flood defence.

Mr Cameron said the army involvement had freed up EA staff to carry out other essential work elsewhere.

When asked if the Government had been slow to react to the flooding situation, he said: “We have been dealing with it from the very moment it started, the Cobra system came in and we have been doing everything we can.”

Giving his backing to the EA, the Prime Minister continued: “The EA staff on the ground, I have been watching them in Somerset, here in Dorset, they do an amazing job and they deserve our support and our thanks.”