Floods .... here we go again

[IBM]

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In Pictures: Flooded Britain

That woman in pic four must be praying like mad....how gutting, back in your house just a month and then the floods are back.

Poor sods

[staffsMike]

thats a real shame. I hope they have adequate insurance.

[StevenF]

thats a real shame. I hope they have adequate insurance.

It is. Just hope it isn't as bad as it was last year.

[Agent]

I'm still bemused as to why councils are still allowing houses to be built on floodplains.

A floodplain, by its very definition is going to flood

[Guy]

I really feel sorry for all the people who after last summers floods and these, will find themselves being refused insurance due to the risk of it happening again.

[kidzer]

I'm still bemused as to why councils are still allowing houses to be built on floodplains.

A floodplain, by its very definition is going to flood

It seems a bit nuts doesn't it?

Theres a town near me that has a pretty big development going up justnow, getting pretty close to fields that flood every year I can remember, I'm pretty sure some of these houses will end up flood damaged at some point in the future.

[TeePee]

Are these floods inspired by god as part of the end times too?

[Wh@l3fish]

I'm still bemused as to why councils are still allowing houses to be built on floodplains.

A floodplain, by its very definition is going to flood

I'm actually a town planner, but before everyone has a go at me, I specialise in retail, plus I work in the private sector, so.. you know... take it easy!

'Most' of the houses that are built now aren't built in flood plains, in fact the controls are getting much tighter so it's harder and harder to get permission to build in places that even have a very very slight risk of flooding. Most of the houses that are in areas with a risk of flooding (and I sympathise very strongly with the people who live there) are older and were built before there was as much public opposition to building in flood plains.

I think why it appears that Council's still allow houses to be built is because the planning system is very slow. Because we live in a capitalist society, where ownership of any property gives you rights over it, the planning system *removes* the owners right to develop land, and places it in the hands of the government. This always gives a presumption in favour of development. This also means that everything has to be 'transparent' (there's not as many brown envelopes as people think!), which unfortunately means that policies take a long time to trickle from central government to local government. Also, at every stage, there needs to be public consultation. This means the planning system is not really dynamic enough, but then again, it doesn't necessarily have to be.

What this means is that you only start seeing the effects of policies several years after they have been implemented. Certainly now it is very difficult (but not impossible - there are always technical solutions) to get permission for develoment in flood plains.

[herulach]

I really feel sorry for all the people who after last summers floods and these, will find themselves being refused insurance due to the risk of it happening again.

Why? Standard enquires on title will highlight that the property is at risk of flooding. If people weren't informed by their solicitor at purchase time, then theres an issue. Otherwise, they just weighed up the risk and unfortunately those involved didnt come up roses. I've sympathy with people in areas with no history of flooding, but even so, it really gets my back up that people seem to think the government can wave a magic wand and fix it. Flood defences take years to plan and implement properly, if theyre done badly youre just storing up trouble for the furture (see the levy system in america).

What particularly annoys me, (admittedly i havent seen it this time round but as you can tell, rant mode is well and truly engaged) are the muppets who stand outside they're flooded house that they bought in a flood plain, that they didnt have insured, and demanding to know what the government are going to do about it! Probably right before going down the pub and moaning about how the government is too involved in their day to day lives, and they should be able to smoke if they want to.

At the end of the day, someone will sell these people insurance, yes the premiums will be enormous, but at the end of the day what would you rather, some people pay a lot more (i.e. those heavily at risk) or everyone pays more (i.e. everyone).

[Stringent]

If you are on a flood plain or region liable to flooding you need to do 1 of three things.

1. Move
2. Expect to redecorate every year
3. Knock your house down and build it on stilts

Wasn't there a guy who took an earth digger and built a wall around his house because he was so fed up with it flooding every year?

Actually I think the government shouldn't allow houses on flood plains, or if they do they have to be built specially with it in mind.

[TheAnimus]

When buying a house/flat, its your job to make sure your not been sold a leamon, buyer beware.

Now i do have sympathy for those who buy somewhere that has never flooded before, but due to flood defenses, or a change in the farm up the hill. etc. They flood. But thats insurance the first time, and planning the second (ie consider cutting your losses). Harsh but thats life.

[mikerr]

They drained a small lake behind our house (we're on a hill llooking down on it) and built a housing estate on it. Apparently there is an underground tank which is drained periodically, but the place still floods.

What makes me laugh is the street names:
Watery lane, Drake Avenue, Mallard close... bit of a clue there

[99Flake]

Why? Standard enquires on title will highlight that the property is at risk of flooding.

That doesn't always happen though, there was a Lexus dealer near me that the insurance company refused to insure again after it flooded and they lost over £3million worth of cars.

The premesis was in a known flood area and had flooded a few times before, upping the premiums each time.

[Lee H]

Well they released some of the water that was in the river irwell yesterday onto the fields near to Salford University.

I seen the water rising for the last few days so it was expected really but even the environments agency stated last night that this was really only designed to be a " once in a few years " solution and not a fix every year it rains.

Maybe the whole drainage system we have needs a overhaul now the rains getting worse?

[nichomach]

Why? Standard enquires on title will highlight that the property is at risk of flooding. ...

If I may add my two penn'orth, our experience rather contradicts that. When we bought our last house, we ensured that it was not marked as being in an "at risk" area. When we sold it, we were dismayed to learn that the Environment Agency was telling prospective buyers that it was in such an area. We pursued this, and conclusively proved that according to their own maps it wasn't. Their response? They redrew the maps so that it was. You can be as careful as you like and still get screwed...