Yet again Colin Shelbourn has hit the spot with his floodometer (Gazette, December 31).

As the flooding is taking place there is media interest. In the immediate aftermath politicians appear and make promises to do what is necessary to ensure it never happens again. As the recovery begins other matters capture media and political attention.

Of course to the victims of flooding, normality takes a long time to return and in many instances people live with the fear of recurrence.

Words like 'unprecedented' and phrases such as 'once in a hundred years' are trotted out and are designed to make flood victims feel better. Having had my former home flooded to a depth of 1ft in 2008 and in the following year completely devastated by water inside to a depth of almost 5ft, once in a hundred years does not work.

The arguments have already started as to whether budgets for flood defences have been cut or not.

Rather than political argument and sidestepping of the political hot chestnuts that require tackling now, the residents of Wales, Somerset, Yorkshire and Cumbria deserve better.

We have a right to understand the causes of our homes and businesses being ruined and, in some instances, our lives put in peril. Above all we need a government that really will do everything to keep us and our homes safe.

Mike Nield

Ings