Feb 12 2010 by David Williamson, Western Mail
PEOPLE living in flood-risk areas must have access to affordable insurance by the end of this year, a cross-party group of AMs demanded yesterday.
The Assembly’s sustainability committee believes urgent action is needed to protect people across Wales whose lives and homes are at risk of devastating floods.
The committee has called for the Assembly Government to step in to ensure that households that have taken precautions get the insurance they need.
It wants to see a Government-funded scheme to “retrofit” houses at greatest risk, and insists that a “one stop shop” is created to deal with all flooding inquiries.
The members are also calling for the appointment of flood wardens – funded by the Assembly Government on a trial basis – who would be responsible for maintenance and communicating flood warnings. They could also help identify vulnerable people during a flood.
The committee also demanded that building on flood plains stops unless the authority granting planning permission is prepared to take out an indemnity policy.
The members of the committee made their recommendations after hearing harrowing tales of the destructive effects of flooding.
Conservative AM Angela Burns said: “We spoke to people who have suffered a one-in-100 years flood two years running and unless something radically changes it’s on the cards for this year too.
“ We saw elderly folk trying to clear up and cope without help and support; young children frightened to move back into their home in case the water came in the night whilst they slept and people simply struggling, who lie awake at night whenever there is persistent rain, who have lost weight through stress, who can’t sleep properly, who are on anti-depressants and sleeping pills, who won’t leave their homes for any length of time and who are quietly going broke.”
Condemning the “crass stupidity” of building in high-risk areas, she said it was time to deal with the danger.
She said: “[That] time is here, now, today, tomorrow, this year. Because if we don’t [deal with this] the consequences will become immeasurably more difficult to deal with, people will lose heart and faith and the financial costs to the public and private purse will become unmanageable.”
Labour Mid & West Wales AM Joyce Watson – who suffered flooding when living in Laugharne in 1984 – warned against building on land where water had traditionally drained away.
She said: “We believe this is leading to dramatic increases in flooding from surface water which has nowhere to go during heavy rainfall.”
Complaining that people who had been caught in the midst of flooding said they were “pushed from pillar to post” as they sought help, Ms Burns said: “[Our] number one recommendation is one agency, which is what we, the committee, believe to be the most important step forward and it is what the people need and want.”
Ms Burns, who represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, added: “[The] Government must look at how we mitigate the spiralling costs of insurance. We met too many people who have done all they can to mitigate the effects of flooding in their homes but still face annual premiums of £2,500 plus or excesses of £5,000.
“When you earn £21,000 a year, the so-called average wage for Wales, those insurance figures are a no-go.”
Evidence from the National Flood Forum suggested a lack of faith in the Environment Agency. It had received complaints from people who said they had got little guidance from agency staff and no feedback where problems were reported.
Environment Agency flood maps were also criticised for either being inaccurate or out of date.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency Wales said would be considering the report in detail over the next few weeks.
Brynle Williams, Conservative AM for North Wales, warned that the devastating Towyn floods of 1990 could return.
He said: “I remember being in the thick of it in Towyn... farmers being asked to go in to rescue people. We have got to get this sorted – we have got to get it done right now.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2010/02/12/ams-call-for-better-insurance-for-those-in-flood-risk-areas-91466-25818029/
