MORE than half of people in the Warrington area could be worried they could be left out-of-pocket as a result of storm damage.
A new survey carried out in the North West in the wake of Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran reveals that 51 per cent of adults in the region are concerned that it could cost them more than £5,000 to repair flood damage to their houses – higher than the national average.
The survey was conducted by permeable surfacing manufacturer.
The findings raise significant concerns about the lack of flood preparedness of homes in the region and highlights the long-term financial impact that the floods will have on individual households.
The Government has announced that flooded households in affected areas can apply for up to £500 in cash to help with immediate costs, but the new data show that this will likely not be enough.
Homeowners in the North-West are also worried about the long-term impact of flooding, with over a quarter (29%) concerned that their property will de-value because of flood damage.
To investigate the Government’s plans for investment in the face of the significant costs that consumers are forced to incur, Vuba submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Environment Agency about the flood risk management projects for which it has allocated funding.
The data reveals that the North-West will receive a significant funding cut of £28.6 million, despite the extreme weather conditions experienced across the region. Funding allocated to manage flood risk in the region in 2023/2024 has decreased by 24.6 per cent, down to £87.6 million from £116.2 million in 2022/2023. On a national scale, overall funding has marginally increased by 0.2 per cent from £836 million to £838 million.
Sean Scott, chief executive of Vuba, said: “For most of us, our home is our greatest asset, and it is concerning that so many homeowners in the North-West fear they would have to spend significant amounts to repair flooding damages. The lack of flood defence mechanisms in the region is especially concerning as climate change is causing more frequent and more intense downpours, leaving homeowners at risk.
“One cost-effective way to improve our homes’ flood resilience is to incorporate permeable surfaces into our outdoor areas. Adopting such materials ensures that when it rains, the water can be absorbed back into the ground, instead of remaining on the ground and building up to cause flooding and expensive damage.
“While the Government has taken note of this and is demanding that all new developments incorporate permeable surfaces to reduce flooding risk, more needs to be done to raise consumer awareness of this effective flood prevention tool.”
