Flood insurance stays in place

LEWES District Council has extended a cautious welcome to the Association of British Insurers' announcement that its members will continue to provide flood insurance to the great majority of homes and small businesses in areas at risk.

LEWES District Council has extended a cautious welcome to the Association of British Insurers' announcement that its members will continue to provide flood insurance to the great majority of homes and small businesses in areas at risk.

The industry's statement follows the recent Government announcement that it will invest in more and better flood defences.

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The new approach will, it is claimed, ensure that there is a competitive market for insurance based on the actual risks of flooding.

It will apply from January 1 and will replace the current temporary agreement that followed the floods of October, 2000.

Said district council leader Cllr Ann De Vecchi: 'We extend a cautious welcome to the announcement.

'Since the floods we have been working to draw national attention to concerns about insurance cover for flood risk areas.

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'The announcement highlights the pressing need for improved flood protection for the outlying parts of Lewes and villages in the Ouse Valley.

'If DEFRA grant is not available for those areas, we urge the Sussex Flood Defence Committee to consider schemes financed from their own resources and from local stakeholders.

'Furthermore, as this is a national issue, the Government could come up with a grant aid scheme to help homeowners to take measures to protect property, as insurers are indicating that this would improve people's chances for affordable insurance.

'Our council, as landlord of 25 of the 40 homes at Landport that suffered flooding in October 2000, will make a financial contribution to protect those properties.'

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At a public meeting on September 11 the Environment Agency said the timetable for the construction of the Lewes town centre defences is likely to be 2003 to 2005.

Subject to the outcome of a study, plans for re-instatement of the floodplain downstream of Lewes could be put into effect in 2005 to 2008.

Where improvements in flood defences sufficient to meet Government standards are scheduled for completion by 2007, insurers will maintain flood cover for homes and small businesses which they already insure.