'Spend more to keep the floods out' bay'

Chancellor Alistair Darling announced in his Comprehen-sive Spending Review that spending on flood defences between 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 would total 2.15 billion.

But even before this sum-mer's floods the Association of British Insurers had called for the government to spend 2.25 billion on defences during the coming three years.

Spending will be 650 million in 2008/09, 700 million in 2009/10 and 800 million in 2010/11.

The Association of British Insurers has hit out at the figure, claiming the government has failed on flood defence spending, and AA Insurance said home insurance costs had risen at their fastest rate since 1994 as a result of the flooding.

Today Bentley councillor Stuart Hardy, whose ward saw some of the worst of the flooding, feels homes in Bentley and Toll Bar will be able to find insurance cover.

But he admitted: “Of course I’d like to see more spending on flood defences and I’d like to see it sooner rather than later.

“I don’t think insurance will a problem though - I think people will be able to get cover.”

Toll Bar resident Tony Riley, who may not be able to move back into his house for over a year, said: “The insurers are right to be worried about the future - everyone in Toll Bar is. Prices could easily go through the roof.

“The Government need to spend a proper amount on flood defences - in the long run that will save them money.

“I only bought my house in April and obviously, as a new householder, I need to watch my spending - the last thing I need is a whacking great bill for home insurance.

“There are going to be a lot of people who, when they see their bills, will just decided they’re not able to afford it.

“Then, if it does flood again, they’ll have to go to the council to help them out - that isn’t good for anyone.”

Mr Darling said the government would keep the amount of money allocated to flood defences "under review", adding that the sum allocated was nearly as much as the ABI had asked for. He said: "We work closely with the insurance industry. We have actually doubled the amount of money we have spent on flood defences over the last 10 years."