This in from Isle of Wight council, in their own words. Ed
The scheme has been running since February 2014 and to date the council has sent out nearly 200 application packs for flood resilience grants and has approved £220,000 of capital assistance for Islanders to help protect their homes in extreme weather conditions.
Grants of up to £5,000 are still available towards flood defence schemes, such as airbrick covers or self closing airbricks, sump pumps, demountable window guards, moving electrics so they are less at risk of being affected by flood water and driveway or garage flood barriers.
Deadline extended
The deadline for flood defence scheme grants has been extended by the government to 30 June 2015 to provide people with more time to complete the works. These grants are for people who were flooded between 1 April 2013 and March 2014.
There is also support available for small and medium sized businesses with funding of up to £2,500 per business. The funding could cover the costs of the clean up, materials, hire of equipment and temporary accommodation hired to enable a business to continue trading. Funding may also cover business continuity planning and marketing costs.
The council identified around 175 businesses that were flooded between October 2013 and March 2014 and has contacted each of them with details of how to apply for funding, with officers in some cases visiting premises in person to provide advice.
Take advantage of the government funding
Councillor Steve Stubbings, Executive member for adult social care and community wellbeing, said:
“It is a fairly simple process to apply for the funding and we can provide residents and businesses with support to complete the relevant paperwork.
“If businesses have receipts from work carried out as a result of flooding last winter (2013/14) in most cases applications will be approved and funding provided.
“We would urge people to take advantage of the government funding before the grant schemes finish later this year.”
Information about the range of support available can be found online.
Image: © Wight kind permission of Holly Fletcher
