Help is at hand for flooded properties

A national charity backed by Prince Charles is setting up a new advice centre to help residents and businesses flooded during December’s storms to access grants to protect their properties from future flooding.

Under the Property Level Flood Resilience Grant scheme, households and businesses affected by Storms Desmond and Eva can apply for up to £5,000 to help make their properties more resistant and resilient to flooding.

The Business Emergency Resilience Group (BERG) - which is part of Prince Charles' charity 'Business in the Community' - is setting up a one-stop advice unit on the Cable Street car park in Lancaster to help local residents and businesses apply for the money.

Advisers will be on hand to guide people through the applications process, help complete the application forms and they can, if the applicant chooses, also help to arrange surveys and quotes for installation work through the BERG network of businesses.

The advice centre will open on Tuesday (April 5) and will be open from 9am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) to provide help and assistance to those people affected by flooding as a direct result of Storms Desmond and Eva.

BERG can be contacted by telephone from Tuesday on 01524 237190 and by email at info@floodresilienceadvice.com. Advisers will also be visiting many of the areas affected by the storms to talk to residents and provide advice.

The grants are being administered by Lancaster City Council and funding for the scheme is coming from central government.

Lancaster City Council can also provide help and advice on how to apply for the grants. More information can be found on the council’s website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/flooding.

Last updated: 01 April 2016