Shaun M. Silson, championing far more UK tree planting, and David Taylor, who wrote in your letters page about changes in planning controls, are in touch with how to solve our flooding crisis rapidly.

They come up with answers that involve changing customs or laws that currently hold sway in this era when road transport is king, and building homes or creating work opportunities gets a far lower priority. What they are saying makes sense.

In a season of disastrous floods, radical emergency plans are required now, from the government.

In 2016 we have to prioritise local people being able to remain in the area if they have lost their homes, not get forced away from the daily work and community they are involved in for many more months.

Taking the long view, surely students could be co-ordinated on a national basis to lend a hand in rebuilding and restoring the treescapes and river beds, asked to take action to learn how to combat the national flooding experienced this winter.

It is not the first time in our nation that many ordinary people have rallied together to focus on repair and new answers to solve the financial and physical legacy of a torn-up landscape that's forced families apart and driven many away from their hard-won jobs and businesses.

After a couple of years when 'The Great War' has had plenty of remembrance events, could it be time to battle with present difficulties?

Faith Kenrick

Kendal