also heard of the difficulties faced by potential buyers in
securing cover for local homes.
And MFAG Chairman Alan Bell and Treasurer Tim Pinkney found
insurance problems were widespread when they attended the
National Flood Forum Conference last month.
Now they say there is a need for action groups to come up with a
clear policy to reform the system and are urging Morpeth to
complete its work in time to present it at a flood-related
Summer Summit.
Mr Bell said: "A lot of people are having similar problems with
insurance and it highlights the need for reform.
"We are going to be pushing the National Flood Forum as a
platform and hopefully will influence its policy.
"We hope to get a national policy and a consensus from all the
different flood groups, rather than the piecemeal work we have
at the moment.
"We just recognise that something has to be done.
"As it is, if Morpeth is flooded again instead of two or three
properties that haven't been done up, we would probably have 40
or 50 because people can't afford the insurance or the excesses.
"That is why everybody, including the town council, is very
concerned."
The conference brought together about 180 people, including
flood victims and support organisations, flooding experts, the
Environment Agency, politicians, representatives of the
insurance industry and manufacturers of flood defence products.
Environment Agency Chairman Lord Smith gave the key note speech
and talked about ongoing work, including the Morpeth flood
alleviation scheme.