Latest news with #FloodRecoveryFramework
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Questions over lack of emergency flood funding
A local council has called on the government to provide emergency funding to help those affected by flooding on New Year's Day. Businesses closed and hundreds of people had to leave their homes in Stockport after the 24-hour deluge when a major incident was declared. Stockport Council has written an open letter to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) asking why emergency funding has not been activated to help them provide relief. In response a DEFA spokesperson said the government planned to invest £2.4bn to build and maintain flood defences across the country. The government's Flood Recovery Framework scheme can provide grants to households and businesses that are impacted by flooding. However, the support was not triggered after the New Year's Day floods in Stockport, leading local leaders to question why. Around 400 residents at Meadow Mill, near Stockport town centre, had to leave their homes when the River Tame burst its banks. There was also localised flooding in Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall and Gatley. River levels on the Mersey were the highest in 66 years of records and the peak in Stockport was more than a 50cm (19in) above previous records set in 1973. Mark Hunter, the Liberal Democrat leader of Stockport Council, said the recovery funds "existed precisely" for the reason of supporting those whose lives were disrupted by the "unprecedented rainfall". "There are still plenty of people who have not been able to return to their homes because they are uninhabitable," he said. Mr Hunter told BBC Radio Manchester: "All we're asking for is some assistance towards the costs that people have incurred, whether it be temporary accommodation or furniture ruined, whatever it is. "There is no reasonable reason why people should be out of pocket directly, when this emergency fund exists precisely for that reason." "Our thoughts are with all those whose homes and businesses have been affected by the recent flooding, including those in Stockport," the DEFRA spokesperson said. "We pay tribute to the emergency services and first responders across the country for their continuous and dedicated work to keep communities safe." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Flooding is devastating for those affected and we hope that people can get back on with their lives as soon as possible. "We know that local authorities are working hard to provide support, and understand the impacts on communities, households and businesses." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Residents finally return home after flood exodus Tenants abandon industrial units wrecked by flood Flooded resident calls for council tax reprieve Spending on flood defences set to rise to record levels Stockport Council
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greater Manchester borough claims it is has not flood 'crisis relief' and is asking: 'Why not?'
Stockport council has made a plea to the government for 'urgently-needed resources', claiming funds to help with the clean-up in the wake of new year flooding hasn't come through. A major incident was declared - with more than 1,000 people rescued across Greater Manchester - following torrential rainfall. Stockport was one of the worst-hit areas. Around 400 people were forced to leave Meadow Mill in the town centre after the River Goyt burst its bank and flooded the car park and lower floors. Water and power supplies were cut off. Businesses at the industrial estate behind the flats suffered extensive damage. READ MORE: Waiting in the toilets at Manchester Airport, a gang of Americans thought they were about to make a lot of money READ MORE: Man tragically found dead in river almost two months after major search commenced is named The A555 Manchester Airport Relief Road was left submerged for days, while properties in Cheadle, Bramhall and other areas of the borough were also damaged. Stockport council said some of those properties 'won't be habitable again for months'. Town hall chiefs have now queried why financial support has not come through. The council's cabinet member for finance, Coun Jilly Julian, said the Flood Recovery Framework has not been activated for the area. Established in 2017, it is a central government scheme to support households and businesses in cases of severe flooding. But the council says its provisions have not been triggered, as it was in as it was in 2019, 2023 and 2024. "Without that decision, and the funding it makes available, councils simply cannot afford to provide badly needed relief," Coun Julian said in an open letter to Emma Hardy MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding. "However, despite the widespread devastation across our borough, we have received no correspondence from central Government as to why this support has not been triggered. "Therefore, on behalf of the residents and businesses of Stockport, I believe it's imperative to make two asks of you and your Government. Firstly, I'm keen to know why you chose not to activate the Flood Recovery Framework following the 1st of January 2025, and provide much needed crisis relief in an already challenging financial climate. "Secondly, in the absence of this funding, will you provide urgently needed resources to help those residents and businesses who are in dire need of central government financial support?" The government said it has set out plans for a new 'strategic vison for flood investment'. A consultation will be launched 'in due course', it added, which will 'will include a review of the existing formula to ensure that the challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities are adequately taken into account when delivering flood protection'. A new Floods Resilience Taskforce has also been set up with the first meeting chaired last September. A government spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with all those whose homes and businesses have been affected by the recent flooding, including those in Stockport. "We pay tribute to the emergency services and first responders across the country for their continuous and dedicated work to keep communities safe. There is much more work needed to be done to protect homes which is why we are investing £2.4bn to build and maintain flood defences, which will help protect homes and businesses across the country."
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Stockport Council questions lack of emergency flood funding
A local council has called on the government to provide emergency funding to help those affected by flooding on New Year's closed and hundreds of people had to leave their homes in Stockport after the 24-hour deluge when a major incident was Council has written an open letter to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) asking why emergency funding has not been activated to help them provide response a DEFA spokesperson said the government planned to invest £2.4bn to build and maintain flood defences across the country. The government's Flood Recovery Framework scheme can provide grants to households and businesses that are impacted by the support was not triggered after the New Year's Day floods in Stockport, leading local leaders to question 400 residents at Meadow Mill, near Stockport town centre, had to leave their homes when the River Tame burst its was also localised flooding in Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall and Gatley. River levels on the Mersey were the highest in 66 years of records and the peak in Stockport was more than a 50cm (19in) above previous records set in Hunter, the Liberal Democrat leader of Stockport Council, said the recovery funds "existed precisely" for the reason of supporting those whose lives were disrupted by the "unprecedented rainfall"."There are still plenty of people who have not been able to return to their homes because they are uninhabitable," he said. Mr Hunter told BBC Radio Manchester: "All we're asking for is some assistance towards the costs that people have incurred, whether it be temporary accommodation or furniture ruined, whatever it is."There is no reasonable reason why people should be out of pocket directly, when this emergency fund exists precisely for that reason." "Our thoughts are with all those whose homes and businesses have been affected by the recent flooding, including those in Stockport," the DEFRA spokesperson said."We pay tribute to the emergency services and first responders across the country for their continuous and dedicated work to keep communities safe."A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Flooding is devastating for those affected and we hope that people can get back on with their lives as soon as possible. "We know that local authorities are working hard to provide support, and understand the impacts on communities, households and businesses." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
