ACTION NEEDED TO STEM TIDE OF FLOOD POVERTY - WELSH LIB DEMS (Oswestry Liberal Democrats)

Oswestry Liberal Democrats <info@oswestrylibdems.org.uk>

ACTION NEEDED TO STEM TIDE OF FLOOD POVERTY - WELSH LIB DEMS

November 24, 2009 2:56 PM
Originally published by Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have today given a warning about the cost of flooding to individuals and communities after increasing insurance premiums have been highlighted in recent weeks.

The Association of British Insurers recently worked with the Met Office and risk modelling group AIR Worldwide to produce a range of models based on temperature increases of 2C, 4C and 6C which predicted that Wales would be the worst hit area in the UK, with a 4% increase in global temperatures leading to a 29% increase in the cost of flood and wind damage.

The average flood premium is estimated at £330, and is 2-3 times this in high flood risk areas. However, the Observer recently highlighted three case studies for householders who had suffered floods in 2007. One had his premiums increase from just under £1000 to £3747, with a £10,000 excess.

A recent Wales Audit Office report criticised the Assembly Government for failing to show strong leadership, and suggested that collaboration between the Welsh Assembly Government could be improved.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for an investigation into the extent to which people are being affected by the rising cost of flood premiums - or flood poverty.

Commenting, Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Öpik said:

"We have seen over the weekend the devastating effects of flooding, and the costs arising from it, but we mustn't forget the hidden long-term costs that come from living in areas at risk from flooding.

"Insurance premiums have rocketed in recent years because of increased flooding, and the threat of more in the future, so there is a pressing need to find out whether people are able to cope, and how many are affected.

"We often talk about fuel poverty and child poverty, and we need to find out if we should also be talking about flood poverty.

"Measures taken to prevent flooding in England can have a massive effect on what happens to my constituents in Wales, so collaboration and co-operation between the Assembly Government and the UK Government is essential.

"I succeeded in having water levels dropped in the Clywedog Dam and also persuaded the Environment Agency to change its flooding policy to support the rights of people living in high risk areas. But the wealth which flooding sweeps away is measured not in gallons of water but in millions of pounds."

Ceredigion MP Mark Williams added:

"Transport infrastructure needs to be able to withstand flooding, and the floods in Cumbria have provided some salutary lessons in the vulnerability of transport routes.

"Important cross-border routes such as the Cambrian Line, need to be given attention so that there are no major effects to the economy when floods occur.

"We need a coherent plan to reduce the risk of flooding, and to reduce the costs to those who are affected, or threatened, by flooding, and to ensure that as little disruption takes place as possible"

ENDS