Written evidence submitted by The National Caravan Council (NCC) (FCC0032)
Position Statement
Flooding – Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Coastal flooding and adaptation to climate change (4 June 2019).
Key Messages:
• Government should prioritise prevention and evacuation plans for residential park home parks and holiday caravan parks in cases of floodingi and be mindful of the practicalities and needs of businesses when finalising such plans.
• A lack of preparation by businesses and/or local authorities in respect of flooding could result in long lasting damage to both the local economy and a region’s ability to attract visitors. NCC asks all MPs with caravan parks in their area to urge the local authorities to work with these tourism businesses in raising awareness of and to help exercise the NCC’s ’10 Point Action Plan’ on flooding.
• In addition to ensuring swift and effective evacuation procedures, consideration should also be given to creating efficient recovery programmes for those living in residential park homes and those holidaying on holiday caravan parks. Forward planning will offer additional peace of mind to those who enjoy these lifestyles and safeguard vital income to the local economy.
• Government agencies should also consider how to reach older, vulnerable people who may find themselves in a crisis caused by flooding. Care services are often not fully prepared for such instances and should be able to benefit from pooling resources to give aid where needed.ii
• Appropriate contact should also be made with insurance companies to ensure that adequate levels of cover are made available for businesses and home owners including holiday home owners at risk of flooding.
Background
The National Caravan Council (NCC) is the UK trade body representing the collective interests of four product sectors – touring caravans, motorhomes and caravan holiday home (leisure products) and residential park homes (housing). The industry makes in excess of £7 billion per year contribution to the UK economy, employs in excess of 100,000 people and serves over
1.7 million caravanners and motorhomers.iii
Housing - Park Homes
Residential Park Homes (often called Mobile Homes) provide a popular housing choice for the over 50s looking to downsize and release equity from the sale of bricks and mortar property. As a growing housing tenure it should be recognised in all flood-risk assessments and evacuation plans. Government should ensure that park homes which offer a permanent housing solution should receive priority in relation to flood-risk planning.
Tourism – Touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday caravans
Domestic tourism in England generates £66bn per annum and employs over 1.2m people.iv Outside of Government spending, domestic tourism represents the most important mechanism for redistributing economic activity and wealth within the UK.v Caravanning makes a significant contribution to the local and national economy and is a popular leisure pastime and a holiday accommodation choice. Visitors can spend between £451 - £482 on a holiday per visit, which feeds into the local economy.vi 67 per cent of all holidaymakers using this method of holiday want to either visit or revisit their destination of choice, demonstrating that reputation is incredibly important when choosing a caravanning destination.vii
In many areas of the country local tourism is reliant on caravan parks operating throughout the year. They appeal to a variety of travellers for both national and international tourism, so reputation is very important to their businesses and their custom. The NCC represents in excess of as many as 1500 holiday parks across the United Kingdom.
Flooding
Flooding is devastating and presents a real risk to life; it effects people’s homes and businesses as well as their livelihoods and physical and mental health.
The NCC estimates that business that prepare for flooding can save between 20 and 90 per cent on the cost of lost stock and moveable equipment.
Residential park homes and holiday caravan parks are often located in areas of natural beauty – either inland adjacent to attractive river valleys or along the coast - attracting visitors from far and wide. Such locations may be susceptible to the risk of flooding and urgent consideration should be given to ensuring that appropriate advice and support is in place for those businesses facing such risks.
In an attempt to help its member businesses, including residential and holiday parks, to minimise disruption and safeguard against flooding where possible, the NCC has published a ’10 Point Action Plan’ which focuses on assessing and evaluations risks and preparing for potential disaster early. Drawing on our work with the Environment Agency we are keen to continue this work to raise awareness of the importance of being prepared and ensure as Government has noted itself that businesses with flood plans are in place is often as a direct result of experiencing the effects of flooding without one.
For those living in residential park homes additional efforts should be made in line with guidance provided by Age UK which aims to provide older people with have effective channels of communications in all mediums and for those where English is not their first language. viii
Securing appropriate insurance cover is another issue of great concern for our members. Statistics suggest around 10 per cent of all residential park homes are within flood plain areas, meaning they are at greater risk danger of adverse weather conditions.ix The Environment Agency has noted that good practice is not widespread in regard to insurance cover because many park owners are concerned that an awareness of flood risk may negatively affect their custom and / or insurance premiums.x We urge Government to work with insurance companies to reduce premiums for businesses and home owners in areas at risk of flooding which can demonstrate effective prevention and evacuation plans, and to build a positive awareness campaign that raises the importance of effective and efficient flood-risk planning and preparation.
Overview and summary
The NCC is calling on Government to:
• raise awareness of and prioritise the importance of effective flood-risk planning
• recognise the importance of prevention and evacuation in response to flooding through targeted guidance such as the NCC’s ’10-point Action Plan’ which offers assistance to residential and holiday caravan park businesses
• consider how best to communicate with older and vulnerable people in areas at risk of flooding
• work with insurance companies to ensure appropriate levels of cover are in place for businesses and private property in flood-risk areas
i https://www.leisuredays.co.uk/news/complete-guide-effects-flooding-3065/
ii https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-andbriefings/active-communities/rb_feb16_older_people_and_power_loss_floods_and_storms.pdf iii https://www.ukcca.org.uk/
iv Tourism Alliance, A Post-Brexit Policy Agenda for the UK Tourism Industry, Page 4 v Ibid.
vi https://www.ukcca.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SC6407-00-Holiday-Park-Econ-ImpactEngland-Final-Report.pdf, Page 22, Table 4.5
vii https://www.ukcca.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SC6407-00-Holiday-Park-Econ-ImpactEngland-Final-Report.pdf, Page 23, Table 4.7
viii https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-andbriefings/active-communities/rb_feb16_older_people_and_power_loss_floods_and_storms.pdf
ix https://www.leisuredays.co.uk/news/insurance-provider-assess-flood-risk-park-2854/
xhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69495/p b13712-flood-camp-sites.pdf, Page 14