... possibly, but for their own benefit and **** everyone else downstream.
One things for sure, Mr. Price certainly wouldn't like to live downstream from himself.
Is standard practice for farmers to divert flooding water/overspill to downstream areas of the catchment, it then becomes the next mans down problem to deal with it, and so on and so forth. Has been for centuries.
Over the decades there has been less and less maintenance, or indeed flood management, of waterways of all types, from roadside drains to full bore large rivers. EA had their chance in this instance, and blew it. Farmer loses patience, and does what he would have done 20 years ago, when no one would have cared!
Now we have hundreds of Eco Warriors aka keyboard kings whom think they know best.
There is no right or wrong here, but he has stopped the houses in his area flooding.
Bet those house owners are happy, even if the outcry from those outwith the area makes them keep their heads below the firing line!
Bert