Minister offers sympathy for Littlehampton flood victims

Mrs Spelman was briefed on the damage caused to homes at Littlehampton and in the Bognor area when a month’s-worth of rain fell in just 24 hours.

Dozens of basement and ground floor flats in South Terrace, Littlehampton, were inundated with rainwater and sewage as the sewerage system failed to cope with the massive load in the early hours of Monday morning.

Homes in other streets close to the seafront were also affected, as well as in Angmering, Rustington and East Preston, stretching the emergency services, council staff, the Environment Agency and Southern Water to the limit and causing mayhem and misery for residents and businesses.

Speaking during a briefing with the authorities and agencies this morning at the Arun Leisure Centre, Felpham, the minister praised the work by emergency services and Arun District Council in the wake of the disaster.

Mrs Spelman said: “I have seen a lot of the damage caused by these horrific floods and my heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected.

“However, this does highlight just how important it for people to have content insurance.

“The government will be working tirelessly with insurance companies to ensure that those who are most vulnerable can afford their home insurance.”

For more about the Mrs Spelman’s visit, as well as a special picture spread on the floods, pick up tomorrow’s Littlehampton Gazette.