5 2
Six years on – Cumbria agency is flooded again
Jennifer Morris
jennifer.morris@
travelweekly.co.uk
A Cumbrian agency was devastated by flooding for a second time in six years this week after Storm Desmond wreaked havoc across the UK.
Cockermouth Travel managing
director Paul Cusack was called to the shop at 2pm on Saturday when it was clear a flood might be imminent.
Staff helped him move all tickets
and documents upstairs, before the shop went three feet under water. The independent agency
diverted phone lines and by Monday had set up a temporary office at Cusack’s house. He even returned to the shop via
a canoe borrowed from a toy shop to pick up some paperwork. “The desks have had it, but we managed to get the brochure racks and carpets out,” said Cusack. “We hope to be functioning by Friday, but it will look like a bomb site. “We hope it will cost less than
last time – we are fully insured.” The business unveiled its “absolutely beautiful” refit in June 2010 after £100,000 worth of damage was caused to the shop in 2009, when Cockermouth town centre flooded. This week, the travel industry
was quick to offer its support. Julia Lo Bue-Said, managing
director of Advantage Travel Partnership, offered the agency the consortium’s assistance. The Cruise Village’s Phil Nuttall
offered a base for any displaced agencies, adding: “In the travel industry, we look out for each other.” And dozens of members of the
trade left messages on Cockermouth Travel’s Facebook page. Despite this latest flooding,
Cusack said he had no intention of abandoning the shop’s premises. “My family owns it and we are in prime position,” he said. “The local community and the
trade have been a huge support.” Other Cumbrian agencies were
also affected by flooding, including Craig Travel in Workington, which suffered carpet damage.
3
Travel firms could benefit from new compensation rules
STORIES HOT
Personal injury claims set to fall
Ian Taylor
ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk
Travel firms will face fewer claims for personal injury and reduced costs after a clampdown on ‘compensation culture’.
Chancellor George Osborne announced a rise from £1,000 to £5,000 in the limit on small claims for personal injury, as part of his Autumn Statement last month. The change will mean
more cases will be handled by small-claims courts, where most claimants can’t expect to claim legal fees, even if they win. Industry lawyer Stephen Mason, senior partner at Travlaw, said: “Life-changing injuries will continue to go to a full court process, but the vast majority of injury claims, such as for a broken wrist or food poisoning, will be dealt with in the small-claims court. “The loser won’t pay the legal
Cockermouth Travel staff Bernadette Beckett (second left) and Louise Cockbain help the clean-up operation
costs of the winner. It’s unlikely to be economic for claimants to instruct a lawyer. Many claims will not be brought at all, as it is quite daunting and quite technical
to bring an injury or illness claim without a lawyer. So the industry will face fewer claims.” Mason added: “Even where a
claim is successful, there will be no consumer’s legal costs to pay. “It is quite common currently
for a claim to be settled for, say, £3,000 and for a claimant to seek legal costs in excess of £20,000. “This should help reduce
insurance premiums. Any of us could be the victim of an accident and find our access to justice weakened. But for the travel industry, this sounds good news.” Abta head of legal affairs Simon
Bunce agreed, saying: “This does seem a good thing for the industry on the basis you would not get lawyers involved.” Companies tend not to disclose
the number of claims they face, but Bunce said: “There does seem to be an increase. The idea of ‘ambulance chasing’ seems to be a concern.” The Forum of Insurance
Lawyers noted the new limit was “aimed at tackling the so-called compensation culture” related to traffic accidents. It could be introduced as early as next spring.
10 December 2015
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