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Warning over drop in flood defence budget
22/10/10
Edited by Andy Jowett.The government's decision to reduce funding for flood defence in the comprehensive spending review raises concerns that inadequate spending in the future could leave thousands of residential property owners "insurable", according to one expert.
AA Insurance director Simon Douglas said there is a "very real and growing risk" of flooding in Britain.
He added there is a rising risk of the "inundations" seen in Tewkesbury and Cockermouth in 2008 and 2009 respectively, as well as increasing reports of flash flooding in areas where it has never previously been a problem.
"This suggests that both spending on draining surface water at a local level is inadequate and that localised severe weather events are increasing in both frequency and severity," he warned.
In the comprehensive spending review, the government set the budget for flood defence at £2 billion over the four years to 2015.
This is down from a figure of £2.15 billion for 2008 to 2011.
Mr Douglas warned a lack of proper funding would push up the cost of buildings and contents cover "for everyone" and could leave thousands of homes uninsurable.
Maintaining government spending on flood defence is a condition of the Statement of Principles, an agreement between Whitehall and the Association of British Insurers that guarantees cover to people in at risk areas.
