downsmail.co.uk
No help for flood-hit traders, says landlady
BUSINESSES in Yalding say false promises of help for flood victims will see the value of their proper- ties go down the drain. Julie Chalker (51), who runs the Chequers pub with her son Christo- pher, says promises of helpmadeby David Cameron, the Environment Agency and the county council at the height of the flooding in 2000 and 2013 have failed to materialise. Not only do the Flood Re rules in- troduced to offer more affordable cover to homes in flood risk areas not apply to commercial operations, they only have a 23-year lifespan. As a commercial operation with
no flood risk assistance from the Government, her insurer insists on a £35,000 excess in the event of flood- ing.
Julie (pictured), who moved into
the pub 19 months ago, said: “Iwas- n’t worried about taking on the pub because we were assured flood vic- tims would be
helped.Now,nothing is being done.” She added: “Businesses are ex-
pected to pay more than 10 times the premium of domestic properties,
even though the risk is the same. “Those selling domestic properties
in a few years’ time will find that buyers won’t be able to get insur- ance or a mortgage for homes in Yalding if Flood Re is not extended.” Mark Pickup, who runs insurance brokerage Lion Insurance, which is based near Yalding, has been work- ing withMPHelen Grant and parish councils in the area to publicise Flood Re to residents. Hesaid: “Flood Re will be in place
until 2039 and homeowners need to use it while it is available. It is vitally
important, in the meantime, how- ever, that theGovernment, Environ- ment Agency and insurance industry work together to ensure communities at risk benefit from the right protections, so when Flood Re comes to an end, affordable insur- ance is available.” He added: “Sadly, there is a strict qualifying criteria for Flood Re and commercial properties are excluded. The thought was that this cover would be available within the com- mercial insurance market, but this is not the case. Insurers are either im- posing hugely increased excesses and premiums or in many cases the only quotation available excludes flood cover altogether. “Many business owners are now considering whether it is financially viable for them to continue to oper- ate with the fear of further flooding and are considering re-locating or even closing. If this happens it will have a devastating impact on local communities.” Flood Re is a reinsurance scheme which enables insurance companies to insure themselves against losses because of flooding.
News Golden girl to
visit school BRITAIN’S hockey gold in the Rio Olympics was not just a success for Team GB and player Susannah Townsend, but also for her old school of Sut- ton Valence. The school
boasts a num- ber
of
Olympians, but Susannah (pic- tured) is the first female to win a medal, and the first ever gold. Susannah (27) was a member of
the school’s 1st XI hockey team for three seasons. She missed out on se- lection for the 2012 Olympic squad, but her commitment and develop- ment over the last four yearswas re- warded at Rio. The school’s head of hockey,
David Matthews, a former GB player himself, said: “We are so proud of Susannah; we have watched her progress with interest as she developed as a player. The team’s perseverance and unity was outstanding and we are thrilled to see their hard work paying off.” Susannah will visit the independ-
ent school to talk to students about her success in Rio, and to inspire a new generation of Olympians.
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