Academic To Urge Further Cooperation In Flood Defences

by Stewart Douglas

Story link: Academic To Urge Further Cooperation In Flood Defences

A leading academic has today urged local authorities nationwide to start working with central government to provide adequate flood defences to fend a likely growth in recurrence of floods and severe weather patterns across the UK over the coming years.

Insurance expert and leading academic Professor David Crichton is set to address a professional assembly in London over the course of this week as to the extent of damage that can be expected as a result of global warming and climate change, and the level of action necessary to prevent widespread economic loss and financial disruption as a result.

Among his key messages will be that government at a local and central level should focus more efforts into providing substantial defence mechanisms against increasingly frequent severe weather patterns, in addition to his attempted persuasion to halt all building on existing flood plains to avoid further damage which may not be covered by the insurance industry in future years, with the potential to have a more significant economic effect.

This comes in the wake of several announcements from the ABI that insurers would be forced to withdraw cover from houses in high risk areas if the government does not reverse its initial defences spending plans, which experts said paled in comparison to the required level of protection necessary.

Professor Crichton will address CIPFA, the body of accountants in Central London on Thursday, with his message that current national infrastructure, in particular the sewerage system, is likely to encourage flooding over the coming years in accumulation with more stormy weather and heavier rains.

It is thought that he will have a strong defence agenda, urging authorities to take action against the risks of flood damage before the insurance industry goes that step further and withdraws general cover for commercial and consumer policy holders in certain high risk areas.