Last week's annual testing of the flood warning sirens was a timely reminder of Boston's status as the flood risk capital of the UK.The Environment Agency says one in six homes in England is at risk of flooding, and climate change will raise that number without better protection.
It calculates that funding for projects that protect communities from flooding from rivers and the sea needs to double to £1bn annually by 2035. Without that, it says, economic damage worth £4bn per year could be the norm. It places the Boston district at the top of its list of areas most at risk from flooding, with 23,700 properties - pretty well every home in the borough - in danger.
Second was North Somerset with 20,415 and third was our neighbouring district of East Lindsey, with 14,949 homes at risk.
The Environment Agency suggests that some schemes could be funded locally without input from central government.
We've talked about all of this before, as we are concerned about the impact that the Environment Agency's condemnation of the area is causing serious problems for homeowners, who are being heavily penalised on their insurance premiums, or even denied insurance entirely because of the "risk."
But how bad is it?
Not many people know this, but the figures produced by the agency are based on what is known as the "inherent flood risk" which is shown on the map above.
Inherent flood risk is defined as the extent of flooding which would occur assuming that no flood defences or other man-made obstructions to flood flows existed.
Second was North Somerset with 20,415 and third was our neighbouring district of East Lindsey, with 14,949 homes at risk.
The Environment Agency suggests that some schemes could be funded locally without input from central government.
We've talked about all of this before, as we are concerned about the impact that the Environment Agency's condemnation of the area is causing serious problems for homeowners, who are being heavily penalised on their insurance premiums, or even denied insurance entirely because of the "risk."
But how bad is it?
Not many people know this, but the figures produced by the agency are based on what is known as the "inherent flood risk" which is shown on the map above.
Inherent flood risk is defined as the extent of flooding which would occur assuming that no flood defences or other man-made obstructions to flood flows existed.
Imagine the outcry if your house insurance risk for burglary was assessed on the assumption that your home has no doors, locks or windows. You would doubtless be refused cover on the grounds that you were all but inviting burglars to trash your home.
Yet this is done in the calculation of flood risk, and no-one bats an eye.
We've said it before - someone in authority needs to get to grips with this issue before Boston becomes and area where no-one wants to live, and to which no business will want to relocate.
Yet this is done in the calculation of flood risk, and no-one bats an eye.
We've said it before - someone in authority needs to get to grips with this issue before Boston becomes and area where no-one wants to live, and to which no business will want to relocate.
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