Published March 3, 2016 at 17:17
People affected by December’s floods are being urged to take advantage of a Government scheme to help householders and businesses make their properties more resistant to future floods.
Under the scheme, householders and businesses affected by Storms Desmond and Eva can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to help make their homes more resilient to flooding in the future.
The grants, administered by local district councils, are intended to help homeowners and businesses put in measures which improve the property’s resilience or resistance to flooding, over and above repairs that would normally be covered by insurance.
More details on how to apply for the Flood Resilience Grant Scheme, and links to the applications form, are available here. More details on what the scheme covers are available under flooding advice at the Lancashire County Council website: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/roads/flooding.aspx
Speaking about the funding, County Councillor Jennifer Mein, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said:
“Anyone affected by Storms Desmond or Eva is only too aware of the devastating impact flooding can have, on your home or your business. In the aftermath of a flood there is a huge amount of work to be done to put things right and my sympathies are with everyone who found themselves in that position.
“I’d like to urge everyone affected to apply for a resilience grant, of up to £5000, to make sure that the impact on their property of any future flooding is minimised as much as physically possible.
“Every affected household has now received a £500 payment from central government and there are other sources of funding available for householders and businesses, so make the most of them.
“Details of the funding, along with who runs each scheme, are available on our website. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, just ask.”
Every household flooded during the storms was eligible to receive £500 and district councils have now made all of those payments.
Support is also available for businesses severely affected either directly or indirectly by the flooding to help them recover and get trading again as soon as possible.
This support for businesses is delivered through Boost Business Lancashire, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s growth hub. Businesses who are unsure if they may be eligible or who need help with the process are urged to speak to a Boost Business Adviser. Details of this support are available from the Boost Business Lancashire website: http://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/directory/flood-recovery-grant-scheme.aspx
Further help in the shape of local tax relief is available for residents and businesses whose properties have not been occupied due to the flooding, with details of the application process available from district councils.
Help is also in place for households in particular need, for example because they are not insured. People may be eligible to receive this additional funding from a local discretionary fund being administered by the Community Foundation for Lancashire. Details are available here [http://www.lancsfloodappeal.org.uk
And support is available for farmers from a scheme administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Details are available at http://www.gov.uk/government/news/recovery-fund-for-flood-affected-farmers-opens
Filed under : flood | grants | protection | resilience | support