Aid for storm-hit Calderdale
THE GOVERNMENT has announced a major support package help areas hit by flooding.
Thousands of pounds of support including grants, as well as 100% council tax relief and business rate relief have been ammounced in a package this week now available for homeowners and small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) businesses worst-affected by flooding, within areas including Brighouse, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, and Todmorden.
Flood-hit members of the public can now apply for up to £5,000 to help make them more resilient to future flooding, while the government will convene the cross-Whitehall Flood Recovery Taskforce (environment, businesses, and transport ministers) to provide boroughs with bespoke support and guidance.
Local government secretary, Robert Jenrick said: “Storms Ciara and Dennis severely impacted a large number of households and businesses.
“I recognise how destabilising this can be.
“This extra support, including new funding, will help people in the worst-hit areas to recover and get back on their feet as soon as possible.
“I’d like to thank the emergency services and key agencies on the ground for their dedication and tireless work to help everyone affected in extremely challenging circumstances.”
Owners of flood-hit homes will be able to apply for a £500 emergency grant and exemption from paying council tax, the Communities Secretary confirmed.
On top of the £500 hardship relief for individual households, the Government is also fronting up £2,500 to each business hit by flooding.
However, Calder Valley Conservative MP, Craig Whittaker said he was “furious” after the
Government took nine days to trigger the funding following the Storm Ciara floods.
Mr Whittaker also said the Mytholmroyd flood defence work completion date took too long.
He said: “The flood defence project for Mytholmroyd has taken too long - it’s a mess.”
Labour also criticised the Government for being too slow to help flood-hit communities.
Shadow environment secretary, Luke Pollard said: “After days of inaction, ministers are lurching slowly into action.
The extra cash for areas comes after the Government activated the emergency Bellwin scheme,
According to Calderdale Council this week, around 1,200 homes and businesses were hit by flooding in the district.
Officials are studying the Government measures so that funding schemes can be opened up as soon as possible.
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