THE article about Margaret Walker of Shipton Road facing a huge hike in insurance premiums after her home was flooded in 2000 (Evening Press, August 31) is precisely the scenario that faces many property owners on the proposed Disasterthorpe site.

Many homes are now, for insurance purposes, in a flood risk area and the building on a 53-acre site will inevitably increase that risk. Wimpey Homes are busy building the Murton Gardens development in Osbaldwick.

Neighbouring properties now face the prospect of waterlogged gardens, due to the land level of the development being raised to protect the new houses from flooding/waterlogging. How many other developments in York have been waved through by the city council that now place existing residents at greater risk of finding themselves unable to insure their properties in the event of another major flood, and by implication are at greater risk of being left with virtually unsaleable properties?

It is about time that the city council, determined to build on every available space, and the profit-seeking developers were made to provide a financial indemnity to existing residents to avoid just the situation Mrs Walker finds herself in.

In the case of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's 'Disasterthorpe' scheme, if they is so confident in it's flood risk management plans, then surely it wouldn't mind providing such an indemnity.

M Warters,

Yew Tree Mews,

Osbaldwick Village, York.

Updated: 11:01 Friday, September 09, 2005