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Extra £5m for flood threat homes Extra £5m for flood threat homes
(about 2 hours later)
Flood risk homeowners in England are to receive £5m in extra funding to protect their properties, Defra has announced.Flood risk homeowners in England are to receive £5m in extra funding to protect their properties, Defra has announced.
As many as half of the 400,000 households which face a significant threat of flooding are not protected by £133m community defence plans.As many as half of the 400,000 households which face a significant threat of flooding are not protected by £133m community defence plans.
Of these, an estimated 10,000 high-risk households will be offered help with 'property level' defences.Of these, an estimated 10,000 high-risk households will be offered help with 'property level' defences.
A public consultation is under way to decide on the best way to spend the extra money.A public consultation is under way to decide on the best way to spend the extra money.
Environment Minister Phil Woolas said that traditional large-scale defences are not a viable answer to flooding in all areas, but that defending individual properties was often expensive.Environment Minister Phil Woolas said that traditional large-scale defences are not a viable answer to flooding in all areas, but that defending individual properties was often expensive.
"Putting a package of measures in place can cost £4,000 to £5,000 for the average semi-detached house, but it could prevent flood damage of up to tens of thousands of pounds," he said."Putting a package of measures in place can cost £4,000 to £5,000 for the average semi-detached house, but it could prevent flood damage of up to tens of thousands of pounds," he said.
"The government wants to support people in making relatively simple changes which can nevertheless have a huge impact on a property's resilience.""The government wants to support people in making relatively simple changes which can nevertheless have a huge impact on a property's resilience."
Mr Woolas said measures such as water-proof walls and floors, and raised electrics, can reduce the potential damage caused by floodwater by up to 80%.Mr Woolas said measures such as water-proof walls and floors, and raised electrics, can reduce the potential damage caused by floodwater by up to 80%.
"They lessen the disruption and distress, and can halve the amount of time it takes to dry out and repair a property," he said."They lessen the disruption and distress, and can halve the amount of time it takes to dry out and repair a property," he said.
The floods that hit England and Wales in 2007 damaged 48,000 homes and led to over 180,000 insurance claims.The floods that hit England and Wales in 2007 damaged 48,000 homes and led to over 180,000 insurance claims.
In his review of flood defences in the aftermath of the emergency, Sir Michael Pitt emphasised that it would be unacceptable for those households hit by the 2007 floods to be as severely damaged in future deluges.In his review of flood defences in the aftermath of the emergency, Sir Michael Pitt emphasised that it would be unacceptable for those households hit by the 2007 floods to be as severely damaged in future deluges.
"Homeowners need to be prepared for the fact that flood risk will be far wider spread than in the past, " he said."Homeowners need to be prepared for the fact that flood risk will be far wider spread than in the past, " he said.
Gill Holland, the chair of a flood committee in Bewdley, Worcestershire, has been campaigning for household flood defences for nearly 10 years.
"I think it's a great idea, but it needs some leadership. At the moment the leadership is patchy," she says.
"This money is probably not enough for the job, but I don't think the money is as important as the example".
Defra has opened a consultation on its website asking for feedback on two proposals - a free flood protection survey for high-risk homeowners and grants to help subsidise the building of 'property-level' defences.Defra has opened a consultation on its website asking for feedback on two proposals - a free flood protection survey for high-risk homeowners and grants to help subsidise the building of 'property-level' defences.
The announcement follows the completion of a £500,000 pilot study in which grants were awarded to homeowners to protect their property in areas not covered by large scale flood defences.The announcement follows the completion of a £500,000 pilot study in which grants were awarded to homeowners to protect their property in areas not covered by large scale flood defences.