Bowles backs insurers' floodplains plea

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 14th Feb 2008

Abingdon resident shows Sharon the results of the floods

Sharon Bowles, Liberal Democrat South East MEP, has come out in support of the insurance industry following the ABI's warning today that without tougher planning controls many future homes will be uninsurable.

As one third of the Government's plan for 3 million new homes by 2010 are to be built on floodplains Sharon Bowles said, "It is about time the UK Government stopped burying its head in the sand and listened to the warnings of both the insurance industry and the Environment Agency. After the horrendous floods last year, that left thousands homeless, it is blatantly clear that we mustn't let households go uninsured.

"Poor planning applications are slipping through despite Environment Agency warnings of flooding risk. Insurers want to continue offering insurance to householders but they will be unable to do so at an affordable price if such a large of much of building on floodplains continues. Even when flood protection measures are included in new builds, that can just mean the excess surface water is diverted elsewhere as we saw last year.

In December 2007, Sharon Bowles criticised the Government for failing to commit the proper funding needed to invest flood prevention in its Comprehensive Spending Review. Sharon Bowles went on to say "This is not the first time. The Government must take this seriously and replace its token, half-hearted gestures with proper action."

ENDS

For more information please go to www.abi.org.uk