People living in flood-affected areas along the River Severn could be thrown a lifeline which would protect them from higher insurance premiums.
Bridgnorth district councillors have been asked to back a motion from Malvern Hills District Council demanding assistance for residents in flood-prone areas.
Councillors attending the district council’s annual meeting on May 7 will be asked to back the motion demanding protection from higher insurance premiums and excess payments for flood-hit residents.
The motion also highlights concerns that people living along the river might not be able to replace belongings or repair their properties if they cannot afford to pay the excess.
The motion from Malvern Hills District Council reads: “This council is concerned about the possible loss and hardship that may be caused to residents and businesses in flood-affected areas if they have to pay significantly increased insurance premiums or accept dramatically higher excesses to obtain insurance cover.
“There have been reports that insurance excesses may rise from £300 to as much as £5,000 according to post codes. Many of the most vulnerable people in society would be unable to replace belongings or repair damaged properties if they had to bear such large excesses.
“Small businesses would be similarly affected and be forced to close as a result.”
Homes and businesses in Bridgnorth’s Low Town are regularly affected when the river bursts it banks. Councillor Ian Seivewright, who lives in The Croft, said he had even heard some people living in Low Town were struggling to get insurance.
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3 Comments
I will give these people a lifeline and help….. DONT BUY A HOUSE NEXT TO A RIVER! IT WILL FLOOD.
There you go, it was free and friendly advice. Put their insurance premiums up and dont pass the costs on to us more intelligent people!
Councils, give these people free swimming lessons and nothing more. Spend our council tax on other services!
When I worked for the National Rivers Authority, I suggested that any surplus money in the budget at the end of the financial year should be used to purchase residential property that was prone to early flooding and that those properties should then be demolished, thereby removing risk to lives during flood events.
I also found that developers who wanted to build in the floodplain tended to argue that the sites they wished to build on would not flood and often the planning committees foolishly ignored the expert advice given that development on such sites should be denied.
Here in Shrewsbury, we have the appalling example of a Borough Council’s offices built on floodplain and protected by a flood barrier while the commercial heart of the town that generates much of the wealth of Shrewsbury is not protected. Perhaps the motto of SABC should be “I’m alright Jack”?
Shrewsbury must be the only place in the UK where one side of the river is protected from flooding while the deserving other side is left to go under water during floods.
big matty always be on the look out for tornado’s, lightening strikes or objects falling from above. time to move underground i suggest, ooh it might flood down there