Grants available for flood-hit Eden households

The River Eden bursts its banks at Appleby Credit: ITV Border

Homeowners in Eden whose properties were hit by flooding are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to £5,000.

The one-off government grant scheme will help fund additional flood resilience or resistance measures for homes that have been flooded and help ensure homeowners get the best possible deal for flood insurance in the future.

Resistance measures are those designed to keep the water out and resilience measures are internal modifications intended to reduce the cost of any damage from flood water.

Household Flood Resilience Grants will be payable to the person responsible for the fabric of the property, which will normally be the property owner.

Applicants will be required to produce receipts or invoices confirming work has been carried out. Ideally, applications should be submitted and approved prior to any expenditure being committed, otherwise there is a risk some costs may not be eligible.

The ‘Resilience’ grant is different to the £500 grant scheme announced before Christmas to help with recovery costs such as provision of temporary accommodation. The £500 grants have been paid to 330 households in Eden and it is estimated that just over 400 residential properties were flooded in Eden in December.

Eden District Council is writing to all properties known to have been flooded (including those who have received the £500 grant) to invite them to apply for the £5,000 grant. However, any householders whose properties have been flooded and have not already informed the Council are asked to get in touch at the earliest opportunity.

The Household Flood Resilience Grant application form and full details, including eligibility are available on the Council’s website:www.eden.gov.uk/floodresiliencegrant Hard copies can be obtained by telephone: 01768 817817 or email: customer.services@eden.gov.ukor by visiting the Town Hall or Mansion House in Penrith.