Funding hopes for flooding victims

FLOODING victims in Cupar who were forced to evacuate their homes days after Christmas have been given fresh hope they could receive lifeline cash.

First Minister John Swinney said he would take a close look at demands from residents in the Fife town who say they need support.

Nine households were evacuated on December 27 and forced into temporary accommodation when the Lady Burn burst its banks due to Storm Gerritt.

In November, we revealed families devastated by flooding in Brechin during Storm Babet last October would get up to £1,500 each.

But North East Fife Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie warned households in Cupar who suffered and lost possessions were irate at the lack of help.

Speaking in Holyrood, he said to the first minister: “The flood victims in Cupar feel insulted that they have been strung along with the possibility of financial support similar to that received in Angus.”

SNP leader Mr Swinney – a Perthshire MSP – replied by saying: “Without disclosing the contents of a private conversation, I did say to Mr Rennie some months ago that I had listened to him on the radio and found myself thinking, he does make a fair point.

“Let me take Mr Rennie’s issues away and see what I can do.”