A Windfall For Storm-Hit Manchester

Published 30th Dec 2015

Local authorities responding to the latest flooding crisis in parts of Greater Manchester are to get a share of £50 million of immediate funding, the Government has announced.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said the money - on top of the £50 million already pledged for those affected by Storm Desmond in Cumbria - would help support households and businesses.

Mr Clark said: No-one could fail to be moved by the scenes of devastation left in the wake of Storm Eva - we're determined to ensure all those affected get the support they need quickly.

That's why we're extending government support to those communities by £50 million, matching the funding already announced for areas affected by Storm Desmond.

The Treasury flatly denied a suggestion from Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Council, that Chancellor George Osborne had been delaying payments to local authorities.

A Treasury spokeswoman said: These claims are completely untrue. The Treasury made clear days ago that it stands ready to provide equivalent support to that offered in previous floods, and to do so as quickly as possible."