The Environment Agency spent more than £800,000 hiring equipment to dredge swollen rivers after it sold off its own machines for just £230,000.
Campaigners believe if dredging had been done earlier some of the widespread damage caused by the worst flooding for 200 years could have been prevented. Concerns have also been raised about an “overall” lack of equipment and planning to protect homes from future flooding.
In the last year the Environment Agency spent £839,564 of taxpayers’ money hiring equipment on 141 occasions to clear and maintain waterways, a Freedom of Information request disclosed.