Dr Ben Spencer MP today submitted his response to the Amendments to the Flood Re Scheme consultation, calling for greater measures to encourage and support the take up of home flood protection measures, and greater clarity and communication for households at risk of flooding.
In particular, the Runnymede and Weybridge MP has called for the creation of local flood control centres in areas of significant flood risk, to provide greater awareness, support and accountability on issues of flood risk policy and response; and supported the proposed incentivisation of household flood protection measures.
Flood Re is a Government backed reinsurance scheme which enables insurance companies to offset some of the risk of ensuring properties in high flood risk areas. This helps to ensure everyone has access to flood insurance and reduce premium costs. The consultation looked at ways this scheme could be used to further address flood risk, however as the scheme is intended to to manage transition to a risk reflective flood insurance market by 2039, Dr Spencer also highlights the need for any changes to be market led. To support this approach he has called for further consideration of how to boost market confidence not only in the assessment of flood risk, but also the quality and installation of flood protection measures.
Dr Spencer MP said:
Every year residents living in Runnymede and Weybridge experience multiple flood alerts and warnings and risk from river, surface water, and sewage flooding. Building community flood defences will massively help but cannot resolve all our flooding issues, and we need to ensure we also look broader policies to address issues around insurance, infrastructure, and encouraging greater use of home protection measures.
To support all of these we must also ensure residents receive the information and support they need, which is why I am also calling for the creation of local flood control centres which would provide a hub to support residents at risk of flooding.
A copy of the consultation response is available below. For further information regarding the consultation, visit here.
