Flood Defence


As the weather forecast finally improves, it will be of little consolation to the people around the country who have once again experienced the devastating effects of flooding.


Approximately 200 flood warnings and 300 alerts are in force in England and Wales and widespread flooding has occurred with approximately 1100 properties being flooded since wednesday last week. The EA has issued flood warnings to 106,000 properties at risk of flooding and many defences have been tested to the limit, protecting over 51,000 properties.


Over the weekend more than 800 homes, mainly in South-West England were damaged as parts of Britain were hit by the worst flooding in half a century. Devon and Cornwall were particularly badly hit, along with Malmesbury in Wiltshire and Kempsey in Worcestershire - where a new £1.5 million flood defence project broke down after an electrical problem.


As each flooding event occurs it adds more fuel to the debates on climate change and flood insurance and heaps more pressure on the Governments to make definitive moves to solve both issues.


The talks between the ABI and the Government appear to be a "crisis point" and Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay, said the events of the last two days "should be a wake-up call for a government that needs to grip this issue and do so quickly".


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The ABI has called for the Government to commit to a joint solution to ensure long term affordable flood insurance for high-risk households, describing the current state of talks aimed at reaching an agreement as being at an impasse.


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This follows the Government’s refusal to consider providing a temporary overdraft facility to a proposed not-for-profit special insurance fund for 200,000 high-risk households which will otherwise struggle to get affordable household insurance when the current arrangements come to an end next year. The temporary overdraft facility would be used to pay claims if there were 2007-style floods in the early years of the scheme before it had built up its reserves.


Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, responded, speaking on BBC Breakfast, denying that talks between the government and insurers had "stalled", whilst MPs have urged the Government to provide more effective financial support in reaction to the damage caused by the heavy rainfall and flooding as local government budgets face extensive cuts.


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Speaking at a debate in Westminster Hall, Rosie Cooper, Labour MP for


West Lancashire, called for changes to be made in how flooding of homes, transport networks and food-production farmland is dealt with and urged for more investment.


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“We need more significant investment in flood prevention measures in homes and a more general commitment to the principle of prevention. “We must deal with the ongoing maintenance of watercourses and sewer systems, which has been cut back due to the squeeze on Environment Agency and local authority budgets.”


She added that the role and responsibility of the lead local flood authorities is largely focused on post-flooding activity, instead of flood prevention and management and a


Flood Barriers in Oxford, EA


despite being eligible for grants to install flood prevention measures in homes, few residents are aware that they are entitled and local authorities do not know how to bid for the measures. She called for the Government to make the scheme a


www.managingwater.co.uk


Widespread property flooding, road and rail closures, failing defences and still the debate over flood insurance continues.


priority and simple to apply for. Chris Williamson, Labour MP for Derby North, attacked the Government cuts in funding for flood defence as many schemes await a starting date.


The Government responded, defending the reductions in flood defence spending, blaming the “parlous economic state” of the country that the Government inherited, and said it was still spending £470 million a year.


Friends of the earth have said that the floods have highlighted that urgent climate action is required. Experts are predicting that climate change will trigger more frequent floods in the future, creating severe disruption in the UK and these recent devastating floods are a “wake-up call” for Britain to take action on climate change and reduce emissions. They called on the Government to show leadership and move quickly to slash UK emissions and help protect us all from the threat of increasing global climate change.


The Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) have said that action must be taken to ensure better flood resilience as the UK continues to face the consequences of severe rainfall.


Commenting on the flooding in the UK and the further warnings in place for the weekend, ICE Director General Nick Baveystock said:


“The impacts of flooding are far reaching - it afflicts communities, homes, businesses and sadly takes lives. It also often leads to the failure of critical infrastructure networks such as power and transport, further restricting access to basic services when they’re needed most. The often long-term effect on businesses is damaging the UK economy as a whole.”


Mr Baveystock has called for more funding and guidance for local authorities so they can adopt a wider range of measures that are not solely reliant on conventional flood defences.


“The Environment Agency itself states that every £1 invested in flood risk, returns around £8 worth of benefit. Adopting a diverse range of solutions will improve our resilience, and ensure these benefits are realised. “We cannot just wait for floods to destroy homes - we must take effective measures to mitigate and avoid damage.”


Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance at the ABI said,


"The Government has indicated it will not provide any temporary overdraft facility for the insurance industry's not for profit scheme, which makes it very difficult for it to go ahead. As a result, negotiations have hit an impasse. Insurers know their customers are increasingly worried about flood cover and we will therefore continue talks with Government to try and find a way forward.


"The severe floods experienced by many areas of the UK this year are a reminder of the rising flood risk facing the UK. It is therefore vital that insurers and Government tackle this issue together - this is not just a problem for insurers. No country in the world has a free market for flood insurance with high levels of affordable cover without some form of Government involvement."


The National Flood Forum have hit out at both parties for failing to secure an agreement on the future of flood risk insurance. and has accused them of “kicking people when they’re down” .


Chairman of the National Flood Forum, Charles Tucker, said “This is kicking people when they are down. Every one of those 816 households is likely to have a nasty shock when they come to renew their insurance. Many that have flooded before could now find it difficult to get insurance, at any price.


“It’s bad enough just to be flooded. Being hit with a 4-figure insurance premium adds insult to injury. And being refused insurance could spell financial ruin for thousands. Every household and community hit by flooding is relying on them to ensure that flood risk insurance is available to all, is affordable, and is based on social justice.”


The Flood Forum has long held that it is Government’s responsibility to ensure that a clear framework is in place with the insurance industry for flood risk insurance. Failing agreement, a completely free market will leave many thousands of high risk properties unable to obtain insurance in future years.


Charles Tucker added “These negotiations have been going on for over 2 years; for them to break down at this stage is outrageous. It’s now time for action. We need to see exactly what is being proposed by both sides and knock heads together; and fast.”


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