Stuart Anderson urges Shropshire residents affected by Storm Henk to apply for government support now available
Shropshire residents whose homes and businesses were affected by Storm Henk in January can now apply for a significant package of support. Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire’s Conservatives Parliamentary Candidate, is promoting the support available after the Government triggered the Flood Recovery Framework in Shropshire. This provides funding for households and businesses impacted by the severe flooding caused by Storm Henk between 2nd and 12th January 2024.
In January 2024, Storm Henk resulted in heavy and widespread rainfall falling on saturated ground in a short space of time. In recognition of the devastating impact that the exceptional localised flooding has had, a package of support has been made available by the Government including;
- Community Recovery Grant: A grant in the region of £500 (indicative) per eligible household, will be paid to the local authority to provide quick support to communities who have been badly affected by the relevant severe weather event to support local recovery efforts.
- Business Recovery Grant: Up to £2,500 per eligible small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), which has suffered severe impacts from flooding that cannot be recovered from insurance.
- Council Tax Discount: 100% discount for a minimum of 3 months, or while any household is unable to return to their primary residence, including a 100% discount on temporary accommodation for any household unable to return to their home.
- Business Rate Relief: The Government will reimburse eligible authorities for the cost of providing businesses 100% relief from business rates for a minimum of three months if flood water entered the property, or the flooding seriously impacted upon the businesses’ ability to trade from the property.
- The Property Floods Resilience (PFR) Grant scheme: a package of funding for property owners directly flooded by a specific weather event that grants them up to £5,000 per property to install measures that make their properties more resilient to future flooding where there is internal flooding to homes or business premises. This includes measures to keep water out, such as flood doors and barriers, and internal changes to lessen the impact of flooding, such as hard floors and raising electrics.
The grants apply to those affected in district or unitary authorities that have 25 or more severely flooded properties. The Farming Recovery Fund is also available for farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their land, with grants of up to £25,000 for repair and reinstatement costs such as recultivation. All schemes are administered through local authorities, except the Farming Recovery Fund which is administered by the Rural Payments Agency. Shropshire Council has stated that applications need to be submitted as soon as possible, before the deadline of Sunday, 7 April 2024.
The recovery grants are in addition to the Government’s commitment to double the funding from £2.6 billion (for 2015-21) to £5.2 billion (over a period of 6 years from 2021) to reduce the harm and damage caused by flooding and coastal erosion, protecting people’s lives and minimising the disruption to their livelihoods. This investment will better protect 336,000 properties, including 290,000 homes, from flooding and coastal erosion by 2027. Additionally, over £200 million per year is invested in maintenance, ensuring flood defences are kept in good working order.
Stuart Anderson said: “The severe flooding caused by Storm Henk earlier this year had a devastating impact on local communities, businesses, and individuals. That’s why I welcome the activation of the Flood Recovery Framework in Shropshire. It provides funding, via local authorities, to help affected residents and businesses to recover from the flooding, as well as reimbursements for offering 100 per cent council tax discounts and business rates relief to these affected properties. I urge everyone affected to apply for the support available via Shropshire Council before the deadline which is Sunday, 7 April 2024.”
More details including on how to apply can be found via Shropshire Council’s website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/stormhenkrelief.
