Emergency funds to support flood stricken communities

Worcestershire County Council has announced an emergency package of support to help communities to recover from flooding.

A quarter of million pounds is being set aside by the County Council to help flood hit communities get back on their feet following some of the worst flooding that Worcestershire has seen for many years.

The County Council communities fund is in addition to a major package of support announced by the Government last night.

Amongst those measures announced by the Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick, flood-hit households will be able to apply for up to £500 in financial hardship payments;  households and businesses significantly affected by flooding will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least three months and businesses which have suffered severe, uninsurable losses will be eligible for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant.

Leader of the County Council, Councillor Simon Geraghty said: “We welcome the Government announcement and we will do our best to help all of those householders and businesses in Worcestershire who are eligible for the financial hardship payments to access the support that they need by proactively deploying our staff in the areas affected.

“In addition to those funds the County Council is immediately setting aside £250,000 to support communities in Worcestershire who have been affected by the floods. I was in Tenbury and in Bewdley yesterday and I saw at first hand the impact that has been caused by the flooding. I want to help towns such as Tenbury, and others across the county, to recover as quickly as they can.

“Together with our district council colleagues we will work out the details of how these emergency funds can be accessed but I want to reassure communities who have been affected by the floods that help is on its way.

“As river levels continue to rise in some parts of the county I also want give my thanks to the Council’s front line staff, to the emergency services teams and to all of those volunteer helpers who have worked tirelessly during the floods to keep the residents of Worcestershire as safe as possible.”

Worcestershire County Council continues to work alongside the emergency services, the Environment Agency and with other partners to deal with highways issues and provide support to other services where required.

A number of road closures remain in force across the county, a full list of which can be found on the County Council website.