The Government has announced a number of ways in which people hit by the winter’s floods can receive financial help to recover from this winter’s events.
A range of aid packages can be accessed through Dorset the county’s various district and borough councils.
These include:
- business rate relief for 3 months,
- council tax rebate for flooded homes
- a £5,000 grant for work to help bolster properties against future flooding
- a support scheme for affected businesses
These relief measures will be backdated to 1 December 2013
Also the Government has announced a £10million fund for farmers suffering from water-logged fields. More information can be found on www.gov.uk
The county council will be bidding for further funding to help with the costs of repairs following prolonged rainfall and gale force winds that has also been offered by national Government.
Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset County Council, said:
“This is good news for the people of Dorset. We are working with our partner councils to ensure that there are a clear set of criteria to use to help people and businesses who need it.
“It is important for the local economy that businesses have the help they need to get them back on their feet and continue trading.”
To apply for any of these initiatives visit www.dorsetforyou.com/flooding for full details. There is an online form for you to complete if your property has been flooded.
There is also financial support being offered by several major banks. Banks and Building Societies including RBS, Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, Santander and Nationwide are offering a range of support programmes including the £250m UK Storm Business Fund offering three month interest free and fee-free loans. Advisers can be contacted on 0800 529 8544.
For information about what the Government has promised in support visit www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-floods-2014-government-response
