10,000 flood vicitms wait to return home

by Gill Montia

Story link: 10,000 flood vicitms wait to return home

Research on the victims of last summer’s floods by BBC’s Radio Five Live, asserts that over 10,000 people have not yet returned to their homes.

Figures from local authorities across England show that over 5,000 households remain in temporary accommodation but the actual number could be greater because the authorities may not be aware of all of those affected.

The East Riding of Yorkshire and Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, are the worst affected areas. The problem is being attributed, in part, to a shortage of skilled labour and the cold, wet winter.

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: “Last summer we were happy with the way and the speed in which the Government responded but we have always argued that the long-term cost was not quantifiable last summer and probably would not become evident for quite a long time.”

According to the Environment Agency, the floods generated insurance claims of approximately £3 billion and other costs amounting to around £1 billion.

In Hull over 8,600 homes and 1,300 businesses suffered damage and last month the Government agreed to make an interim payment of £1.8 million to cover some of the cost.