"Government has failed on flood defence spending"

Stephen Haddrill, the Director General of the Association of British Insurers has hit out against the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) on flood defence spending.
"The insurance industry is helping tens of thousands of people affected by flooding this summer, but the Government has now failed to play its part. Millions of homeowners and businesses around the country have been let down by the Government’s failure to commit sufficient money to new and improved flood defences.

“Government spending for the next three years (£2.1Bn) is less than we were asking for, even before the floods during this summer. It does not begin to address the major issues, including drainage, which were highlighted by this summers floods. The Government will have to increase spending substantially as needs are identified by the Pitt review team."
The insurance industry has supported householders caught by flooding on the understanding that the Government would improve defences. Will the Chancellor Alistair Darling’s spending announcement leave householders in flood risk areas now at risk of not getting insurance?

Flood risk maps can be viewed on line by The Environment Agency.
Click on the link below and zoom in to the Maidstone Weald area.
http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/mapController