Government budget must include flood funding for Calderdale, says leader

The Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) said latest figures revealed that of all the recent flooding which has engulfed the country, homes and businesses in Calderdale alone were proportionately among the worst hit, totalling 1,187 buildings in Calderdale.

It underlined the council’s case that the unique nature of Calderdale’s topography required the resources to match to tackle flooding which Tier 1 status, recognising it is at severe risk of flooding, would bring.

Calderdale had endured three major flooding incidents in just eight years, said Coun Swift.

The council was still assessing the full extent of damage to infrastructure and the ultimate cost of repairing it and making it more resilient.

“We continue to call on Government to grant us Tier 1 status.

“This is vital as Calderdale has unique challenges because of its steep-sided valley, which brings a continued high risk of flooding.

“Tier 1 status would recognise the unique threat we face from flooding and would help us to unlock the ongoing resources we need to help protect our communities.

“We are pushing hard for a level of funding in the UK Budget on March 11 which recognises Calderdale’s challenge, equivalent to the support we received after the Boxing Day 2015 floods,” said Coun Swift.

In the wake of Storm Ciara, which caused severe flooding in Calderdale, and Storm Dennis, a near-miss for the borough but affecting other areas badly, a high proportion of properties hit across the country suggested that in England more than a third of the homes and over half of the businesses which were flooded are in the Calder Valley, he said.

“This is the third significant flood event we have experienced in the past eight years and whilst we’re very proud of the way in which our communities and businesses are bouncing back, this situation is not sustainable.

“That’s why we’re asking Government to recognise how vulnerable Calderdale is to flooding by granting us Tier 1 status, to provide a recurrent injection of funding for continued protection,” said Coun Swift.

Coun Swift said it as too early to know the exact cost of the recent flooding as the continued bad weather has made assessment of some of Calderdale’s key infrastructure, particularly some of the borough’s bridges, too difficult at this stage.

“However once this has been completed we will assess what resources are required, later in the year,” he said.

“What is clear is how vital it is for us to continue to protect funding to those services which we rely on to respond during flooding and its aftermath, since these are so critical to the recovery of our communities,” he said.

In terms of financial help, Calderdale residents and businesses whose properties were flooded by Storm Ciara are encouraged to apply for grants to help them recover and become more resilient.

Grants available are as follows.

Community Recovery Grant: Grants of up to £500 are available for each home that has been flooded, or where the home cannot be lived in due to the flooding – more information, criteria and the application form can be found at www.calderdale.gov.uk/flood-grant and enquiries can be emailed to [email protected]

Council Tax Discount: In addition to the Community Recovery Grant, residents can apply for a 100 per cent Council Tax discount for a minimum of three months, or longer if flood water entered the home or the home was otherwise considered unliveable for any period of time; and a 100 per cent Council Tax discount is also available on temporary accommodation for anyone unable to return to their home (more information and the application form, available at www.calderdale.gov.uk/flood-grant, or email [email protected] if you have any questions).

Business Recovery Grant: Small and medium-sized businesses which have been severely affected by the recent floods and are unable to claim insurance can apply for grant funding of £2,500 – for more information and to apply, go to www.calderdale.gov.uk/flood-grant, and note any questions about business support can be directed to [email protected]

Business Rates Relief: Businesses can apply for 100 per cent relief from Business Rates for a minimum of three months, or longer if the business is unable to resume trading from the property – the relief provided will be subject to state aid limits and will only be available to properties with a rateable value of less than £10 million (if the business has been awarded a

Business Recovery Grant, the council will automatically award the Business Rates exemption and more information is available at www.calderdale.gov.uk/flood-grant

Property Flood Resilience Scheme: Details are still awaited about this scheme – there will be grants of up to £5,000 to help homes and businesses to become more resilient to flooding.