New legislation is coming into force but has received little publicity. So from October you should beware paving over your front lawn! Meanwhile I'm keen to get my tarmac drive replaced with grass paving but can only find contractors in the S-E who have experience of doing it.

Diana, Derby, uk

True, much of the localised flooding can be due to gullies and ditches along country roads not being cleared. Many years ago, landowners, farmers and the local council employed people to go around 'hedging & ditching'. Many roadside ditches have not been cleared for years, so flooding often occurs.

B Clarke, Chelmsford, England

Yes! I seriously hope someone in the government's planning department is reading this because they seem to have no idea these two things are linked. The level of ignorant and unthinking construction going on in Britain is staggering.

Mark Thomas, Biddulph, UK

To add to Jean Baker's comment, our 80+year old neighbour farmer said the councils used to have a duty to keep the ditches clear but they haven't had to do that for many years.

This caused us problems a few years ago and we had to manually clear them ourselves over many weekends.

Col, Reading,

Legislation is imminent - October this year will see you needed permission to pave/ tarmac over front gardens. Gravel & other water draining options are OK. I feel that this legislation hasn't has much publicity. Couldn't this article have helped redress this?

Diana, Derby, uk

Really interesting comments. My feeling is that with approx 2.5m net influx of people to our crowded island since 1997, widespread flooding is an early consequence. Would immigration still be seen as an economic benefit if it was coupled with flood defenses, road/rail upgrades, new hospitals?

James, London,

I have noticed that the BBC are now adding to their long list of 'off limits' views the idea that concreting over Engliand is a bad idea and raises the risk of flooding.
No doubt this added thought crime is because of its indirect link with immigration and its need for more houses.
A new heresy.

Janice, Witney, UK

Absolutely correct, coupled with unmaintained blocked drainage systems; overgrown ditches, streams and waterways. In rural locations ditches no longer carry field drainage to streams/rivers.
The road where I live becomes a river during normal rainfall.
It's not due to climate change.

jean baker, Guildford, Surrey

I think there is some truth in what you are saying here. I left the UK 8 years ago and my hometown which never flooded in 32 years of me living there has now been flooded three times in 8 years. Incidentally, the village has doubled in size due to new developments in the last 8 years. Interesting!

ipd, London, Uk

After emigrating to the US, I have been amazed at the planning restrictions placed to ensure no flooding caused by development, including no disturbance to floodplain or wetland areas and no development that will cause increased water flow over adjoining property, hence deluges pose little problem.

Ian Plant, Phoenixville, USA

This is a result of farm land being reclassified for development with profits to the owners in one case in Oxfordshire with the farmer making £75,000,000 in a offshore bank account leaving the people that purchased the homes on a flood plan carrying the can with the local government that issued

Arthur Barker, Wolverhampton, U.K

As a young boy living on the Essex/Suffolk border the river stour had long narrow meadows running along each side. these often flooded but without damage to property.then the clever boys with certificates at Anglian Water, cleared the river
of all minor impediments, result more rapid flow

Eddy, Bury St.Edmunds,