Memorandum submitted by Dudley George
(FL 08)
RECENT GLOUCESTERSHIRE
FLOODS
If future housing needs force us to build on
land that may be subject to flooding, it seems inexplicable bordering
on negligent that Building Regulations are not altered to force
new homes to be built with the appropriate safeguards. There are
technologies—some going back to the Middle Ages—that
could be updated and applied at minimum cost if a standardised
requirement was met by mass production eg UPVC doors that could
accommodate a flood board to half way up that could be screwed
watertight, walls treated to withstand water up to around 4 ft
deep on the outside etc. Why is the UK having to bear billions
in insurance costs when most of these homes could have avoided
flooding altogether?
There is another benefit in that if these standard
products were created to serve new house building, then prices
would fall and availability rise to owners of older properties
as well. After our (1870's) property flooded in the recent problems
we bought a pump that will spring into action if water begins
to fill our rear patio again. We had to buy a pump imported from
an Italian manufacturer as "there is nothing as good from
the UK", yet Lister Petter of Dursley has only recently closed
and it had a worldwide reputation in pump technology.
Dudley George
August 2007
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