First round flood protection grants announced
NEWS RELEASE
Ref: 144/09
Date: 25 June 2009
The first round of new grants to help people protect their homes against flooding were announced today by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.
The £5 million Flood Protection Grant Scheme was announced as part of the Government’s response to Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the 2007 floods. In the first round of funding, £3 million has been made available to 25 local authorities to protect up to 593 properties across England offering practical flood protection solutions, including air brick covers and door guards.
Mr Benn said:
“While we’re investing in more flood defence schemes, we need to recognise that in some areas, flooding can’t always be prevented. That’s why we’re helping households across England to become more resilient to floods by protecting their homes from the damage and destruction that can be caused.
“People living in areas ranging from Devon to Newcastle and from Lancashire to Lewes who are at risk of flooding will receive grants to help them better protect their homes.
“We had an overwhelming response to the grant scheme from local authorities. This is only the first round of grants and as a result of this interest, we’ll be reviewing the money available for the second round with a view to providing even more funding to protect people’s property.”
In addition to the original £5 million, an extra £500,000 has been allocated specifically to help those areas affected by the floods of Summer 2007 in addition to the support they have already received. Local authorities whose applications met the criteria but were unsuccessful due to funding restrictions will be automatically considered for the second round of grants.
Environment Agency CEO Paul Leinster said:
“The Flood Protection Grant Scheme will benefit over a thousand people by putting in place flood products such as air brick covers and door boards, increasing resilience to over 590 homes from flooding from rivers, sea, surface water and groundwater. The Environment Agency is pleased to have played a part in making the Scheme announced today by Hilary Benn become a reality, delivering a key Pitt Review recommendation.”
Local authorities will be given flexibility in how they implement their schemes and the initial surveys they commission will ensure they know exactly how best to allocate the funding available.
Notes to editors
1. Selection criteria for the Flood Protection Grant Scheme
2. The Government’s response to the Pitt review can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floods07.htm
3. The draft Flood and Water Management Bill consultation documents can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floodsandwaterbill.htm.
4. The Environment Agency has overall strategic responsibility for flood management.
5. Local authorities awarded round one grants; Ribble Valley BC, Rossendale BC, Wigan Council, Vale Royal BC, Leeds City Council, Wakefield MDC, Newcastle City Council, Wychavon DC, Birmingham City Council, South Derbyshire DC, Aylesbury Vale DC, Milton Keynes Council, Uttlesford DC, Oxford City Council, West Oxfordshire DC, Vale of White Horse DC, Wokingham DC, Lewes DC, Somerset CC, East Devon DC, Gloucester CC, Doncaster CC, Lincolnshire CC, Tewkesbury BC, East Riding of Yorkshire CC.
6. Nine of the local authorities chosen were directly affected by the severe flooding in 2007 and have received £1,118,600 of the total £2.5million first round grants.
7. While Hull City Council (HCC) did not bid for a grant under this round of funding, the area still faces serious and unique problems. With so many residents badly affected in 2007, Defra and the Environment Agency will work with HCC to support them in putting in a bid for the second round of funding, which will take place in Autumn 2009.
8. Financial breakdown of grants:
- Ribble Valley Borough Council will receive grant of £119,700 to protect 21 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Rossendale Borough Council will receive grant of £3,000 to protect 2 homes from flooding using flood boards.
- Rossendale is asking for less than the maximum grant because an assessment has been made and a solution identified.
- Wigan Council will receive grant of £83,500 to protect 15 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Vale Royal Borough Council will receive grant of £15,000 to protect 48 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Vale Royal is asking for less than the maximum grant for a retirement home to protect flats on the ground floor. The measures will benefit all the flats in the retirement home.
- Leeds City Council will receive grant of £131,100 to protect 23 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Wakefield Metropolitan District Council will receive grant of £85,500 to protect 15 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Newcastle City Council will receive grant of £216,600 to protect 37 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Wychavon District Council will receive grant of £121,000 to protect 22 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Birmingham City Council will receive grant of £153,900 to protect 27 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- South Derbyshire District Council will receive grant of £33,511 to protect 23 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- South Derbyshire is asking for less than the maximum grant because an assessment has been made with environment health officers and drainage engineers and a solution identified. A pilot project has already been run to test the suitability and performance.
- Aylesbury Vale District Council will receive grant of £325,000 to protect 57 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Milton Keynes Council will receive grant of £39,900 to protect 7 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Uttlesford District Council will receive grant of £79,800 to protect 14 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Oxford City Council will receive grant of £119,700 to protect 21 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- West Oxfordshire District Council will receive grant of £171,000 to protect 30 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Vale of White Horse District Council will receive grant of £51,300 to protect 9 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Wokingham District Council will receive grant of £114,000 to protect 20 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Lewes District Council will receive grant of £282,000 to protect 50 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Somerset County Council will receive grant of £267,900 to protect 47 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- East Devon District Council will receive grant of £96,900 to protect 17 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Gloucester County Council will receive grant of £68,400 to protect 12 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Doncaster County Council will receive grant of £108,000 to protect 19 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Lincolnshire County Council will receive grant of £96,900 to protect 17 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- Tewkesbury Borough Council will receive grant of £119,000 to protect 21 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
- East Riding of Yorkshire County Council will receive grant of £108,000 to protect 19 homes from flooding using a variety of flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.
End
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Page published: 25 June 2009
