ABI COMMISSIONED OPINION RESEARCH INTO PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO FLOODING ONE YEAR ON FROM THE SUMMER FLOODS OF 2007

To coincide with the first anniversary of the 2007 summer floods, the ABI commissioned Populus to carry out a survey into public attitudes towards flooding. Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults in areas badly hit by the flooding in the summer 2007 in Yorkshire and Humberside and Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.
They also interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults across the country in areas not as badly hit by last summer’s floods.
KEY FINDINGS

THE PUBLIC THINK THAT THE FLOOD RISK IS RISING AND MORE ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO MANAGE THE DANGER
• 8 out of 10 people (81%) of those badly hit by flooding last summer think the flood risk is getting worse. Among the public as a whole, nearly two-thirds (64%) think that the risk is getting worse.
• Three quarters (74%) of both those badly hit last summer and the general public that were not badly affected think that not enough is being done to tackle the flood issue.

THERE IS OVERWELMING PUBLIC BACKING FOR THE ABI’s CALL FOR MORE GOVERNMENT ACTION
• Both 9 out of 10 (91%) of those in areas badly hit last summer, and the general public (92%) agree that the ABI should put more pressure on the Government to better manage the problem.
• Not surprisingly, most who were affected by the floods (76%) and the general public (74%) say that better flood defences / management should be paid for by increased Government spending (15% say ‘Other’, but the survey did not require them to specify).

IMPROVEMENTS IN DRAINAGE, GREATER INVESTMENT IN DEFENCES AND BETTER PLANNING CONTROLS ARE THE KEY MEASURES NEEDED TO REDUCE FLOOD RISK.

• Almost total agreement - 98% of those affected and 96% of the general public - that improvements to the UK’s drainage system is the most important first step in tackling flooding.
• 97% of those in flood risk areas (93% of the general public) say that there must be tougher controls on where new homes are built.
• 96% think that the Government must invest more money in flood defences.
INSURERS DID A GOOD JOB IN DEALING WITH THE HUGE NUMBER OF FLOOD CLAIMS LAST SUMMER
• The response of the insurance industry was better than local authorities, the Environment Agency and the Government. Our rating improved since the last survey carried out in November last year, when we were second behind local authorities. Now our score is 3.35 out of 5 (3.26 last time). The Government’s rating has fallen from 2.64 to 2.50.

CUSTOMERS RECOGNISE THAT THE COST OF FLOOD INSURANCE HAS TO REFLECT THE FLOOD RISK (BUT DO NOT EXPECT THEIR PREMIUMS TO RISE FOLLOWING ‘ROUTINE’ DISASTERS)

• Two-thirds (66%) of those in flood risk areas (who are likely to have seen the highest of any premium rises) recognise that it is only fair that the cost of flood insurance will rise if flood risk get worse. 73% of the general public think this is fair.
• But most - 70% - feel that for the unexpected events which insurers normally expect (and budget for), then insurers should not automatically increase premiums.

WE NEED A NEW APPROACH TO BUILDING NEW HOMES

• Three quarters of those surveyed – 78% in flood affected areas and 73% of the general public – said that the Government’s target of 3 million new homes by 2020 should be reduced if it leads to more homes at risk of flooding.
• 93% of those badly affected last summer and of the general public say that new developments should only be built where there are adequate flood defences in place or planned.
• 85% of those affected and of the general public agree that all new homes built should incorporate flood-resilient features.
• There is overwhelming support for a recognised standard or kitemark to show new homes built to flood-resilient standards – 91% in flood hit areas and of the general public think this is a good idea.
Association of British Insurers