Taxpayers to foot £250,000 flood bill

THE Valley taxpayer is set to foot the bill for £250,000 worth of urgent flood damage repairs, after the Government rejected the council’s bid for funding.

A report prepared for Rossendale’s full council meeting next week outlines how the council applied to the Bellwin Scheme to fund the reconstruction of a river wall in Rawtenstall, but has been rejected.

The retaining wall at the rear of numbers 1 to 6 Victoria Way collapsed during Storm Ciara in February, an unstable exposed embankment.

The river levels have gradually lowered and reverted to normal, however further rain will potentially raise the river levels and cause further damage to the exposed river embankment and the properties above.

Councillors are due to vote on whether to approve up to £250,000 in capital funding to enable the works to be undertaken urgently.

The report adds: “A claim was submitted to the Council’s insurance company Zurich and a loss adjustor has confirmed that the reconstruction of the wall falls outside the remit of the Council’s insurance policy.

“However, dialogue is still open with the insurance company to try and secure some payment on the basis that this was caused by storm damage.”

The council will meet remotely via video app Zoom on Wednesday, July 15 at 6.30pm.