All under control (From Malvern Gazette)

All under control

4:22pm Friday 10th August 2007 in Letters

I must agree with several flood victims in their fury at effectively a flood tax which they (and us) will have to pay. Obviously funding is needed, to repair roads, for instance, but the Treasury has taken large amounts from car tax money intended for roads over the years. Water companies have not used all the money intended for flood defences, but have spent billions on EU rules on water purity - but didn't the Danes find that excessive pasteurisation of milk led to increases in disease because body immunities had not been built up?

Last year I wrote to Sir Michael Spicer to pass on what I had been told by a retired MEB engineer about the vulnerability of electricity sub-stations, and the long delays that would occur in rebuilding damaged equipment. I had a reply from a chief executive assuring me that everything was under control!

Years ago I received a curt note from my house insurer stating that my premiums were to be increased to cover flood insurance. I wrote back stating that my house was on the 450ft contour level and the insurers head office was effectively at sea level, so would they assure me that they would be in a position to pay if I were to make a claim? I received a rather shirty reply that if that was what I felt they would not increase the premium in my case!

G Bishop, Severn Lodge, Malvern Wells.