Deadline Extended For Flood Relief Applications
Update Cllr Justin Tomlinson & Cllr Peter Stoddart
The deadline for people to apply to Swindon Borough Council for flood relief money has been extended by a fortnight, due to a late flurry of interest.
A sum of 50,000 in flood relief money is to be made available to help residents suffering the most acute financial hardship following the exceptional rainfall on 20 July. The money is part of 250,000 that Swindon Borough Council received from the Department of Communities and Local Government for flood relief. The remaining 200,000 will be used for remedial works in Swindon to reduce the risk of flooding in the future.
Residents wishing to submit claims to the council originally needed to do so by 5 November. But the deadline has now been extended until noon on Monday 19 November due to a surge of last-minute enquiries. The grants are not intended to cover financial losses which are covered by insurance, but are designed instead to be used for a wide range of other expenses, such as replacement of essential household items and temporary accommodation.
The money will be paid to people whose homes have been badly damaged inside by floodwater, and will not cover damage to garages, outbuildings, gardens and basement cellars.
The amount of money given in each grant will be determined by individual circumstances, within the overall amount available. Evidence will need to be submitted to support all applications.
So far Swindon Council has received more than 50 applications. But due to a late flurry of interest, we have decided to extend the deadline so that everyone has an opportunity to submit a claim. After considering a number of options and listening to the views of local people at the recent special scrutiny meeting we believe this is the best way of using the money we have been given. A priority list of potential flood alleviation schemes is currently being drawn up by engineers and will be published on the Council's website and in the December edition of the Council's newspaper for residents, Swindon News. Although the individual grants will be relatively small we hope they will give some comfort to those who have been most severely affected.
Cllrs Justin Tomlinson & Peter Stoddart, Cllr David Renard, Haydon Wick ward is leading the campaign for action to remove the risk of future flooding. Everything must be done as the misery caused in July was unacceptable.
For further information please visit:
http://www.haydonwickintouch.com/ and http://www.abbeymeadsintouch.com/