Flood Rescue Firm Backs Campaign for Homes Insurance

June 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Five years ago this month, the rivers Severn and Avon burst their banks causing many millions of pounds worth of flood damage in Tewkesbury. In all, 650 homes and businesses were washed out. This left people living in temporary accommodation for more than a year whilst professionals were brought in to dry buildings out and repair them.

The floods also hit many other towns and villages across Britain during a spell of horrendous weather. However, even though the clear up was completed several years ago, the legacy continues. Many people in Tewkesbury cannot get insurance cover because of a perceived future risk of more flooding. This was compounded in recent weeks with more heavy rain causing rivers to swell.

Richfords Fire and Flood was one of the companies drafted in to help people put their lives back together. They are concerned for the state of insurance for their customers and fear the situation might actually get worse. This is because in June 2013, the agreement between the Government and the insurance industry (Statement of Principles) comes to an end. The deal allows people who live in areas threatened with flooding to get cover.

Letters have already been sent to the Government minister for flooding, Richard Benyon, asking him to push forward with setting up a new agreement. One possible solution could be to make insurers pool their money to cope better with extreme weather. Another solution involves a third party underwriting the insurers.

Richfords Fire and Flood is launching three videos filmed in Tewkesbury that examine the floods five years ago. The online documentaries speak to locals who struggled to piece their lives back together in 2007 whilst asking questions about what will happen in future extreme weather events.

Michael Cooper is a director at Richfords Fire and Flood:

“Homeowners and businesses have been left in a terrible situation for years. Many have had to resort to self-insuring, whilst others have battled to get the Government to take action. We are adding our considerable professional weight to encourage the speedy resolution of this matter. It has left hundreds of people in Tewkesbury unable to sell their homes as the first question they are asked by prospective buyers is about flood risk.”

Please watch these videos to brief yourself on the topic before lobbying your local politicians.

http://www.richfords.com/news/PressInformation2.php

ENDS.

Contact: Michael Cooper 01209 722 522 / 07968 175 455

MichaelCooper@Richfords.com

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

•   The videos mentioned in this press release can be found at http://www.richfords.com/news/PressInformation2.php

•   Radio TV broadcasters can obtain permission to use the audio and visual content from the videos provided by contacting Michael Cooper.

•   Richfords Fire & Flood covers the whole of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Bristol and the South of Wales.

•   Richfords Fire & Flood has two bases: Pool in Cornwall and Cullompton in Somerset.