Concern over flood grants process
ENVIRONMENT: Flood victims in Yorkshire are still waiting to apply for government grants designed to prevent future disasters five months after the latest deluge.
Tory councillors on Calderdale Council have said that the local application process for the grants has not yet opened. to those who might qualify.
This is not the action of a council that professes to care.
Coun Sophie Whittaker of Calderdale Council
FLOOD VICTIMS in Yorkshire are still waiting to apply for government grants designed to prevent future disasters five months after the latest deluge swept through homes and businesses.
Conservative councillors on Calderdale Council have said that the local application process for the flood resilience grants has not yet opened to those who might qualify for the help to better protect their properties.
The Calder Valley is one of the worst blackspots for flooding in the Yorkshire and Humber region, and there was widespread anger after towns including Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd were hit by the third major flood in seven years in February.
The Government announced the national scheme for £5,000 grants to help home and business owners introduce prevention measures after flooding affected large parts of the country at the start of the year.
Tory councillors in Calderdale said that they and Calder Valley
MP Craig Whittaker had repeatedly inquired about the situation surrounding grants, but had been told Calderdale was looking into a joint approach with neighbouring authorities.
The process had been put on hold following the coronavirus outbreak and it was now hoped to open up to applications in late June or early July.
However, senior Tory member Coun Stephen Baines said: of these much needed funds.
“The council appear to be saying one thing in their press releases and then another in communications with councillors and the MP.”
His colleague, Coun Sophie Whittaker, added: “This goes beyond incompetence. Eligible claimants will be made to wait five months, potentially longer, to receive much-needed funds to make their properties resilient to future flooding, which could happen again at any point.
“This is not the action of a council that professes to care about protecting its residents from such devastating yet preventable events.”
The Cabinet member for regeneration and resources, Coun Jane Scullion, admitted that the coronavirus outbreak had led to delays, such as carrying out survey work which had to be halted.
However, she stressed that the authority has continued to progress plans to enable it to open applications for the Government’s grants and ensure “robust processes” are in place to administer the scheme.
Coun Scullion told her colleagues: “We hope to shortly launch an initial ‘expression of interest’ application, so we can begin eligibility checks.
“We’re aware of the security that flood resilience measures bring to homes and businesses, and we continue to work with other organisations and the community to do all we can to increase flood protection and resilience across the borough.”