Help for Wiltshire homes and businesses hit by flooding
Government grant support is being made available to affected properties
Home and business owners in Wiltshire affected by flooding during Storm Henk can apply for help through Government grant funding.
It follows the offer of grants of up to £5,000 for homes and businesses hit by Storm Babet in October 2023, which can still be applied for until Monday (15/1).
Homes on Ashley Road in Salisbury were flooded earlier this week in the aftermath of the Storm, causing families to be forced to move into temporary accommodation.
Those homes are on the River Avon, where the Salisbury River Park project, aimed at improving flood defences, is still ongoing.
A range of help is on offer, depending on the damage and type of property affected.
Grants of up to £500 are available to help the most severely affected households, through the Community Recovery Grant, while local authorities can provide funding reaching £5,000 to make homes and businesses more resilient to flooding in the future.
The Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme will pay for various improvements to buildings to beef up their flood defences. And those forced out of their homes will be exempt from council tax for a minimum of three months.
For businesses owners in the county who've been impacted, a £2,500 Business Recovery Grant can support small and medium-sized enterprises.
Businesses are also in line for an exemption, with a 100% relief from business rates for three months for those impacted directly by the Storm.
And for Farmers in the more rural parts of the county can apply for grants up to £25,000, aiding the repair and reinstatement costs where uninsurable damage has been caused.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Flooding, said: “We know just how badly the recent Storm Henk has affected homes and businesses across Wiltshire, with people in Bradford on Avon, Marlborough and Salisbury particularly hit by rising water levels.
“I’d urge anyone who has been the victim of flooding as a result of Storm Henk to contact us as the first step in receiving grant funding.
“As things are moving quickly at this stage, we are still awaiting further information from the Government about how exactly people can claim this funding, which is why we’re asking people to contact us in the first place and we’ll then advise them on how they can apply in full.”
Homeowners and businesses that have been affected by flooding from Storm Henk should contact the council in the first instance on stormhenksupport@wiltshire.gov.uk.