05-12-2007
ABI calls for flood management strategy
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for a new flood strategy for the UK and has urged businesses in high risk flood areas to make sure they have adequate insurance.
The ABI believes the UK is in need of a new 25-year strategy to manage the country's risk of flooding - a risk the ABI believes to be worsening. Indeed, a study conducted by Populus has found that in the areas affected by flooding over the summer months of 2007, 61 per cent believe they will probably be affected by the same level of flooding in the future.
"We can't prevent flooding entirely, but what we can do is manage floods, which means reducing the likelihood of them occurring in the first place and minimising impact," said the Environment Agency. "Around five million people, in two million properties, live in flood risk areas in England and Wales," it added.
The ABI believes that as apart of the new strategy, there should be more robust controls on planning as a strategy for reducing the number of properties developed in areas suffering from high flood risks.