Dear Editor

Recent newspaper reports have highlighted the devastation caused by riverine flooding in the West Midlands over the past month, including Herefordshire and Ross-on-Wye.

Naturally, there are calls to government to reinforce flood barriers and build new revetments in city areas, where there are already a number of housing estates built on or close to the flood plains.  However, and based on meteorological trends, it is likely that we will see more storm surges such as these over the coming years.

Would there not be a case, therefore, to dam stretches of the upper reaches of major rivers, in less-populated areas, to create reservoirs to contain flood water and, as importantly, release this water - or make it available - during summer droughts.

The initial outlay to build dams and compensate those who would lose their land will, naturally, be a consideration, but surely the long term benefits of this strategy would be worth the cost.

Philip Angus

Ross-on-Wye