IT was distressing to see the reports of the Carlisle flooding.

No doubt it brought back unpleasant memories of the 2000 flood in York.

Predictably, within 24 hours Government Minister for the Environment Elliot Morley was paraded before the TV cameras wringing his hands and bleating the mantra "global warming - we must expect it to happen again". Really?

Although Chester was not affected by the floods of 2000, many villages along the banks of the Dee were badly affected by the overflowing of that river and its tributaries.

I am becoming more sceptical of the global warming theory. It is becoming a convenient peg on which authorities can hang problems which they can use for their own political ends. Weather patterns have always fluctuated. Can the boffins pinpoint the time when "global warming" began to have an effect on our weather?

Many who know the River Dee contend that lack of strategic dredging of the build up of silt and gravel has been a major factor since 1995 when the Environment Agency took control of the rivers and virtually stopped all maintenance work.

Severe flooding in the Dee area has regularly occurred during winter months.The EA's stated policy is now to re-naturalise rivers and let nature (or in this case, water) take its course.

Unfortunately, new flood plains are being created not only in rural but also urban areas - as the residents of Carlisle found to their cost.

Until the EA's flawed policy is changed then places such as York, Carlisle and Shrewsbury will continue to make headlines for the wrong reasons. I would be interested to hear from any of your readers on this matter. Contact at the address below.

Peter Lowe,

29 Buckingham Avenue,

Vicars Cross, Chester.

CH3 5JR

Updated: 11:12 Tuesday, January 18, 2005