Will anyone insure flood-hit homes?

HOMEOWNERS hit by devastating floods in Llanddowror say they now can't find a company willing to insure their properties.

As residents continue the clean up after a 4ft wall of floodwater flashed through the village, hitting 27 homes, they say insurance companies are turning their backs on them.

Since the flood, Eric Friend, of Riverside, has seen the downstairs of his property stripped out, including a kitchen only fitted a year ago, after floodwater poured in through the downstairs toilet.

Yet he said he was facing further stress as no insurers are prepared to take him on when his policy expires on March 15.

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"The flood defences worked really well until it come out of the downstairs toilet," he said.

"Unfortunately, there was too much water and it overwhelmed the sewerage system. I can't knock the insurers, they are paying out fine.

"My issue now is my insurance policy runs out on March 15 and I'm having great trouble in getting any renewal while I have an ongoing claim.

"They have automatically renewed my policy for the past three to four years, but because I've got a claim outstanding they won't insure me.

"I think they should be obliged to insure us for another year.

"All right, they could put the cost up, or the excess, to reflect the risk, but they have chosen to not even offer me a quote.

"I can't find cover anywhere."

Mr Friend said he used one comparison site — but of their 89 insurers, not one would cover them. "So from March 15, I can't get cover until the house is habitable and my claim has been settled."

Mr Friend said there was also concerns over implications the whole post code area.

"I do worry that as a community, Llanddowror, where 27 properties were affected, even those that weren't could be bearing the brunt of it."

Negotiate

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns has raised the issue with the First Minister during question time.

Mrs Burns pointed out that the Sustainability Committee, of which she was a member, had made a number of recommendations urging the government to negotiate a plan with the Association of British Insurers to ensure that people in areas of flood risk do not suffer permanent blight.

Conservative Mrs Burns said: "The Government accepted the recommendations of the report at the time, however time is passing and action seems very slow.

"Although I was heartened to hear the First Minister saying the Welsh Government is working with the UK Government and the Association of British Insurers on options, I am very concerned about the length of time this is taking and the grave effects it is having on people's finances let alone having to deal with the stress of losing so much because of the flooding and becoming homeless.

"Already I have cases coming through from the floods of earlier this year and I would urge anyone affected to contact their Assembly Member so we can put cumulative pressure on the government for action."