Wiltshire residents and businesses who suffered flooding last winter have been offered further financial support.
As a result of requests from councils, including Wiltshire Council, the Government has announced that it intends to extend the eligibility period for certain schemes to cover the entire 2013/14 financial year.
The package of support comes from the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
Around 500 homes were flooded in Wiltshire last winter. The schemes being extended are:
• Council Tax Relief Scheme, supporting councils to provide council tax rebates to residents whose homes were flooded.
• Business Rates Relief Scheme, supporting councils to provide business rates rebates to businesses whose premises were flooded.
• Severe Weather Recovery Scheme (communities’ element) to support local authorities with the costs associated with impacts on local communities • Repair and Renew: which provides grants of up to £5,000 for flooded homeowners and businesses to improve the resilience of their properties; and • Business Support Scheme, providing hardship funding to businesses affected by the floods.
Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for flooding said, “This is excellent news for those residents and businesses who were badly hit by flooding last winter and particularly those who suffered from the exceptional rainfall in September. Hopefully this additional financial boost will help them with their continued recovery.
“The council works with residents, businesses, parish councils and other agencies on flood prevention throughout the year, and helps manage the emergency response during flooding. We fully understand how devastating flooding can be, and appreciate the importance of all support from national and local government, both practical and financial.”
