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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Flood families 'still displaced' | Flood families 'still displaced' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Of the 17,000 families displaced by the summer 2007 floods, 168 have still not been able to return to their homes, official figures show. | Of the 17,000 families displaced by the summer 2007 floods, 168 have still not been able to return to their homes, official figures show. |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said he "sympathised" with the families, but "significant progress" had been made on improving flood protection. | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said he "sympathised" with the families, but "significant progress" had been made on improving flood protection. |
| This included completing 85 new flood defence schemes to protect some 58,000 additional homes in England, he said. | This included completing 85 new flood defence schemes to protect some 58,000 additional homes in England, he said. |
| The 2007 floods claimed 13 lives and saw 44,600 homes deluged. | The 2007 floods claimed 13 lives and saw 44,600 homes deluged. |
| Yorkshire and the Humber, the Midlands and south-west England were among the worst-hit regions. | Yorkshire and the Humber, the Midlands and south-west England were among the worst-hit regions. |
| The floods also affected about 7,100 businesses and caused damage totalling £3bn. | The floods also affected about 7,100 businesses and caused damage totalling £3bn. |
| 'Setbacks' | 'Setbacks' |
| Figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government showed that 184 families had returned home since March this year. | Figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government showed that 184 families had returned home since March this year. |
| The remaining 168 are living in caravans or local authority housing and most have reportedly been unable to return because of "subsequent issues" following the floods. | The remaining 168 are living in caravans or local authority housing and most have reportedly been unable to return because of "subsequent issues" following the floods. |
| The department said these included "families opting for extra building work on top of repairs", "discovery of pre-existing structural problems" and "setbacks from starting repairs before properties were fully dried out". | The department said these included "families opting for extra building work on top of repairs", "discovery of pre-existing structural problems" and "setbacks from starting repairs before properties were fully dried out". |
| We'll all be glad to see those last few get home Rosie WintertonLocal Government Minister | We'll all be glad to see those last few get home Rosie WintertonLocal Government Minister |
| Ms Winterton praised local efforts to get back to normal after the floods and said central government had also done much to help. | Ms Winterton praised local efforts to get back to normal after the floods and said central government had also done much to help. |
| "Unprecedented government support has committed £136 million over the last two years to help those tireless communities get back on their feet, return families to their homes and ensure affected areas are open for business once again," she said. | "Unprecedented government support has committed £136 million over the last two years to help those tireless communities get back on their feet, return families to their homes and ensure affected areas are open for business once again," she said. |
| "Significant progress is still being made. Out of 17,000 families only 168 remain displaced and that's mainly because of subsequent issues. | "Significant progress is still being made. Out of 17,000 families only 168 remain displaced and that's mainly because of subsequent issues. |
| "This means roughly 99% of all those affected are back home. We'll all be glad to see those last few get home and then all those affected by the 2007 floods will finally be able to put it well and truly behind them." | "This means roughly 99% of all those affected are back home. We'll all be glad to see those last few get home and then all those affected by the 2007 floods will finally be able to put it well and truly behind them." |
| Grant scheme | Grant scheme |
| Following the floods, Sir Michael Pitt carried out a review of the country's flood defences and last year published a list of 92 proposals he said must be implemented if communities were to be better protected in the future. | Following the floods, Sir Michael Pitt carried out a review of the country's flood defences and last year published a list of 92 proposals he said must be implemented if communities were to be better protected in the future. |
| Publishing a progress report on those proposals on Thursday, Mr Benn said that "immediate action" had been taken to help communities most at risk. | Publishing a progress report on those proposals on Thursday, Mr Benn said that "immediate action" had been taken to help communities most at risk. |
| We need to recognise that in some areas, flooding can't always be prevented Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary | We need to recognise that in some areas, flooding can't always be prevented Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary |
| Among those steps was a £5m grant scheme for householders to pay for their own flood protection improvements like installing door boards and air brick covers hold back rising water. | Among those steps was a £5m grant scheme for householders to pay for their own flood protection improvements like installing door boards and air brick covers hold back rising water. |
| Mr Benn said: "While we're investing in more flood defence schemes, we need to recognise that in some areas, flooding can't always be prevented. | Mr Benn said: "While we're investing in more flood defence schemes, we need to recognise that in some areas, flooding can't always be prevented. |
| "That's why we're helping households across England to become more resilient to floods by protecting their homes from the damage and destruction that can be caused." | "That's why we're helping households across England to become more resilient to floods by protecting their homes from the damage and destruction that can be caused." |
| The first round of funding from the grant scheme would benefit almost 600 homes, he added. | The first round of funding from the grant scheme would benefit almost 600 homes, he added. |
| Other steps taken so far include creating a £7.7m Flood Forecasting Centre and signing up an additional 136,000 householders to the Environment Agency flood alert system. | Other steps taken so far include creating a £7.7m Flood Forecasting Centre and signing up an additional 136,000 householders to the Environment Agency flood alert system. |
| But Lib Dem environment spokesman Martin Horwood said the government's optimism was "laughable". | |
| "If new floods hit us this summer, Britain will be almost as ill-prepared as it was then," he said. | |
| "We have underfunded flood defence by hundreds of millions of pounds over the last two years and now face a public spending crisis with a backlog of schemes." | |
| A new Flood and Water Management Bill has been drafted and is currently awaiting wider consultation. | A new Flood and Water Management Bill has been drafted and is currently awaiting wider consultation. |