Funding available for Carlisle flood victims

Carlisle under water after Storm Desmond Credit: ITV Border

Flood-hit residents and businesses in Carlisle are being reminded that grants of up to £5,000 are available to help prevent future flood damage.

BERG, a Business Emergency Resilience Group, is now supporting Carlisle City Council to deal and process applications. They will also help flood affected property owners get quotes install flood alleviation measures.

The group has a base within Carlisle's Civic Centre and staff are available from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. They can also be contacted on 01228 817002 or email floodgrants@carlisle.gov.uk

Part of the Property Resilience eligibility criteria allows flood affected property owners to get a qualified surveyor to assess their home/business and make a professional recommendation as to how the money is best used/invested. £500 of the overall £5,000 can be claimed against that cost.

Carlisle City Council says the flood resilience grants are intended only to fund additional measures which improve the property’s future protection or resistance to flooding, over and above any repairs to flooded properties that would normally be covered by insurance. The grants can be spent on things such as:

  • Professional surveys to assess flood risk and what measures should be taken

  • Permanent flood doors and window guards

  • Replacing chipboard kitchen or bathroom units with plastic units to minimise water damage

  • Replacing existing plaster and wall insulation with water resistant plaster and insulation materials

  • Sump pumps

  • Smaller measures such as watertight covers for airbricks and special seals and valves to prevent sewage backflow.

The end date for applications for both residential and business property applications is Saturday 31 December 2016.