Following severe flooding in the UK during the summer of 2007, Sir Michael Pitt was asked by the Government to carry out a review of the flood related emergencies. The interim report was published in December 2007.
The Pitt Review identified the following responsibilities of the Highways Agency for flood risk management:
- operation an incident response
- risk assessment and strategic planning
- new and improved infrastructure
- infrastructure maintenance
- contingency planning
The Highways Agency needed to improve the resilience of the motorway and all purpose trunk road network to the increased risk of incidents caused by severe weather such as flooding and heavy snowfall. Such severe and extreme weather events are projected to occur more often under climate change.
Halcrow with skills and expertise in research, investigation and report writing delivered the Emergency Customer Welfare elements of the Pitt Review Programme Management.
A report was prepared summarising the options for water provision and communications in the event that Emergency Customer Welfare was implemented. In addition a technical note was prepared to outline the next steps for Emergency Customer Welfare.
As a reult the Highways Agency is able to build resilience to future extreme weather, improve communications to the travelling public and put the ‘customers’ welfare first.