Demands for action to reduce flooding

Three-quarters of people think not enough is being done to tackle flooding, according to research published today by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Improving drainage is seen as the number one priority.

There is also widespread support for the government’s target of three million new homes by 2020 to be reduced if it would lead to more homes at risk of flooding, according to the ABI.

Gordon Brown pledged in July last year to build two million new homes by 2016, with a further one million, carbon-neutral, properties to be completed by 2020.

At its floods conference today the ABI will warn half a million homes currently known to be at significant risk of flooding could become uninsurable, unless the government ensures that they are adequately protected.

"Insurers will have paid out £3 billion following the floods last summer," said Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health.

"But, like us, our customers share our concerns for the future. These findings reinforce our call for a long-term flood management strategy.

"In particular we must tackle the problem of surface water drainage.

During June and July last year floods swept through swaths of England and Wales, with Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and South Wales all hard hit.

However, the floods recovery minister, John Healy is expected to release figures later today showing 4,700 families are still not back in their homes.

Coupled to this, eight out of ten people in areas badly flooded last summer think the flood danger is increasing, according to the ABI. Among the public generally, nearly two-thirds think it is getting worse.

In response, nine out of ten would like to see a recognised standard or kite mark to show that new homes are built to flood-resilient standards.

"Planning for the future is essential if we are to minimise a repeat of last year’s terrible floods, and to ensure that flood insurance protection remains widely available," concluded Mr Starling.

Chris O'Toole