Flood victims left with impossible choice of feeding their families or paying four figure insurance bills, claims Doncaster mayor

The mayor said some insurance companies ‘have not assisted’ people in the aftermath to those even with cover.

The floods back in November hit several communities hard, especially in Bentley and Fishlake after the River Don burst its banks following colossal rainfall.

Mayor Jones said the Flood Re scheme - which is a levy and pool system agreement between insurance companies to provide flood insurance coverage to domestic properties deemed at significant risk - should be promoted more widely.

She also took issue with the Bellwin Scheme which allows councils to claim money back in response to events like flooding by saying it was too restrictive.

“We’ve been lobbying Government for them to assist people who are uninsured,” she said.

“People didn’t know about Flood Re and if they did, then residents wouldn’t be forking out huge sums just to cover excess at as much as £7,500.

“Questions need to be asked at some sections of the insurance industry and some of their morals.

“Some firms have been extremely good and have stepped up. Fair play to them but others have not assisted.

“You’ve got to feel for every family affected - it’s terrible. People are faced with an impossible and say do I put food on the table for my children or do I pay for the insurance well into four figures.

“When I went out to Fishlake and I visited one of the affected properties and I saw a whole life’s collection of records and pictures floating around - not able to be replaced along with the trauma on these people’s faces through it all while trying to be resilient - it’s heartbreaking.

“The Bellwin Scheme does not give you sufficient money back because there is only certain things within a timeframe - it doesn’t include for the brilliant staff we’ve had working around the clock - since the 2007 floods we’ve got half the staff we once had.”