NEW proposals aimed at preventing a repeat of the floods that devastated parts of the Cotswolds in 2007 have been announced.

The Cotswolds were badly hit during the emergency on July 20, 2007, with about 1,150 homes and businesses in 79 towns and villages suffering from severe flooding.

The Government has unveiled the draft version of its long-awaited Flood and Water Management Bill, which aims to bring the laws around flood prevention up to date.

The Bill follows last year’s report by Sir Michael Pitt, which found “clear gaps” in how well prepared the UK was to deal with flooding.

The Government’s proposed Bill aims to clear up the confusion caused by numerous different public bodies having responsibility for different types of flooding.

Instead, the Environment Agency will be given a national flood prevention role, while councils will be put in charge of preventing floods locally. To date, Cotswold District Council has spent £663,000 on flood prevention schemes since the July floods of 2007.

These projects include: l A flood protection screen at River Evenlode in Moreton l A land drainage protocol which states the timescale owners need to carry out ditch clearance l A flood alleviation scheme in Bourton l Early warning systems To see the draft Bill, visit defra.gov.uk/environ/fad/floods andwaterbill.