WHAT is the so called "floods minister" Phil Woolas actually doing? During this summer many towns have experienced flooding because of sudden rainstorms.

The drainage systems in our towns cannot cope, we are told. This will happen more frequently in future because of climate change.

If river levels are low, can flood waters enter the drainage systems faster and run away safely?

Why don't we dam the upper reaches of our rivers so we can better manage their flow and level?

Bends in rivers straighten over hundreds of years leaving behind oxbow lakes. Should we intervene and speed up this process artificially? Should we create manmade oxbow lakes to act as manmanaged flood plains?

It is time for central government to act to protect people's homes, businesses and jobs.

Nigel Boddy, Darlington.