Erewash residents whose homes were deemed uninhabitable after Storm Babet can apply to the borough council for up to £500 towards their flood bills.
The grants, coordinated by Erewash Borough Council, were announced after getting the green light from the Department for Levelling-up, Housing and Communities.
The money – which the borough has been pushing the Government to allocate – is towards immediate costs for those households impacted.
This is just one element of several flood relief schemes the government has launched in response to Storm Babet and is in addition to funding for council tax discounts and business rates relief. This will see council tax discount and business rate relief for a minimum of three months if flood water entered the property.
Residents can report their flood damage and apply using the online forms on My Erewash where you will find more information on the schemes.
Evidence must be provided via photos, video and insurance claim. The property should be the person’s primary residence to be eligible, and flood water must have entered into habitable areas of the residence. Further details can be found at erewash.gov.uk
In addition, the Department for Business and Trade is working on a business recovery grant scheme of up to £2,500 per flooded business – the details of the scheme and eligibility is currently still awaited from the Government and further information will be publicised when available.
Meanwhile, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs aims to help property owners beef up flood defences with up to £5,000 for residents and businesses through the Property Flood Resilience Scheme. Information on the resilience scheme, which will be led by Derbyshire County Council, will also be publicised when available.
Erewash has been pulling out all the stops to assist flood-hit residents, some of whom have been unable to return to their homes.
Around five hundred properties across the borough were affected. Household possessions were ruined – and the council rushed to waive its usual charges for taking away bulky items.
Councillors have declared a full-scale climate emergency – a move they had already been planning before the storm hit.
The authority’s leader Councillor James Dawson said: “I would like to thank the communities across Erewash who pulled together to help each other during what was a very stressful time for many. I’d also like to personally thank the staff of Erewash Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, Derbyshire Constabulary and other partners who have worked tirelessly in very challenging conditions to deliver help to those who have needed it and those who continue to need help.”
Advice on flooding can be found at erewash.gov.uk
Those who need help to fill in the online form can contact the council on 0115 907 2244.