TY - JOUR

T1 - “We cannot let this happen again”

T2 - reversing UK flood policy in response to the Somerset Levels floods, 2014

AU - Smith, Alana

AU - Porter, James J.

AU - Upham, Paul

PY - 2017/2/1

Y1 - 2017/2/1

N2 - The Multiple Streams Framework offers a theoretical account of how policy proposals move from latent possibilities to becoming favored for implementation. We apply this framework in the context of the policy response to the 2013–2014 flooding of the Somerset Levels and Moors. Stakeholder interviews and analysis of news media coverage evidence the way in which a specific policy option that had fallen out of favor with the national Environment Agency – dredging – came to the fore and was eventually adopted during the period in which the conjunction of problem, policy, and political pressures came to a head. Local political activists mobilized a wider campaign with the help of social media and capitalized on national political sensitivities to successfully promote dredging. What is less clear is the longevity of the policy reversal, given funding constraints.

AB - The Multiple Streams Framework offers a theoretical account of how policy proposals move from latent possibilities to becoming favored for implementation. We apply this framework in the context of the policy response to the 2013–2014 flooding of the Somerset Levels and Moors. Stakeholder interviews and analysis of news media coverage evidence the way in which a specific policy option that had fallen out of favor with the national Environment Agency – dredging – came to the fore and was eventually adopted during the period in which the conjunction of problem, policy, and political pressures came to a head. Local political activists mobilized a wider campaign with the help of social media and capitalized on national political sensitivities to successfully promote dredging. What is less clear is the longevity of the policy reversal, given funding constraints.

KW - dredging

KW - flood policy

KW - Kingdon

KW - multiple streams

KW - Somerset

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84969802099&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/09640568.2016.1157458

DO - 10.1080/09640568.2016.1157458

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84969802099

VL - 60

SP - 351

EP - 369

JO - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

JF - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

SN - 0964-0568

IS - 2

ER -