UK must centralize its flood defences under one body to avoid future catastrophes
In the aftermath of the summer flooding, victims who lost homes and livelihoods and insurers left with a £3bn bill demanded answers.
Off the bat many in the insurance industry cautiously participated in the blame game with veiled threats that coverage couldn’t continue unless the government pulled up its socks and began upholding its end of the bargain in terms of risk management and flood defences.
But in many cases, it was a little like poking a stick at a beehive. Insurers wanted to rouse the government but weren’t prepared to be stung by negative press likely to ensue if the industry was to withdraw cover.
Now, six months after the flooding, the ABI has released a hard-hitting report on lessons learned that takes an unapologetically critical look at what went wrong beforehand and what the industry expects the government to do about it.
“The government should take this opportunity to set its policy in the context of a 25-year national strategic plan for flood defence and management,” said ABI director general Stephen Haddrill. “Britain is suffering from the fact that so much of the thinking about flood defences has been short-term, based on three-year spending plans. What we actually need is sustained and planned investment over a far-longer period, based on full and public assessment of the risks and costs.”
In particular, Haddrill said action is needed to improve the quality of drainage systems and management of surface water.
One of the main issues contributed to the summer’s catastrophe and inadequate defences is the fact that currently there is no one single body managing the fight against flooding.
An independent review showed that in Hull various agencies including city council, the EA and Yorkshire water failed to work together to reduce the risk. The problem has been each agency has its own competing priorities and responsibilities for various infrastructures including drainage, water on the roads and coastal flooding.
The ABI has called for the Climate Change Bill to introduce a statutory objective for the EA to reduce flood risk and to become the national coordinator for the identification, assessment and mitigation of flood risk from all sources, including drainage.
In order to fulfil the public’s right to know about flood risk across the country, the ABI proposes the EA should make publically available all maps and flood risk information from all sources.
By coordinating flood defences within one central body, there will be less chance of miscommunication when potential risks or damage to infrastructure creep up. Better coordination will allow the risks to be properly identified before they reach crisis proportions.
The association has also called on the government to produce a 25-year national strategy outlining the policy reforms and investment needed to combat flooding.
The ABI has sent its list of demands to the government and said it will continue working with them to indentify the level of investment needed to ensure the UK is appropriately defended against flooding in the future.
