Witney News - Time to apply for flood grants running out

Time to apply for flood grants running out

Monday 31st December is the deadline date for West Oxfordshire residents whose homes were flooded in July to return a completed application form for a £250 one-off grant. The grant is to help offset the extra costs to householders caused by the flooding.

To date the West Oxfordshire District Council has paid out a total of £261,250 in grants to 1045 claimants who were eligible for the money as the flood water had penetrated the interior of their homes.

The money has been drawn from a total of £600,000 allocated to the District by the Government to help flood hit residents with estimates showing that more than 1650 homes were flooded in July.

£186,000 of this total was set aside by the Council to aid people who suffered particular financial hardship. 234 additional hardship grants worth £118,200 have been made so far.

In line with the overwhelming response of people affected by the floods, any money left over will be used on their priorities for action.

£75,000 has been allocated to help identify land drainage problems, solutions and ownership responsibilities. A further £50,000 has been earmarked for urgent clearance of ditches and drainage for which the Council is responsible. This work is now well underway.

Cllr Simon Hoare, West Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Resources said: "We've decided that the end of the year makes a useful cut off point for applications for both the basic £250 payment and applications for hardship funding. I'd urge anyone who has not applied to date to do so as quickly as possible."

Flood Recovery Grant application forms are available:-
From the Council's website, www.westoxon.gov,uk
From council reception areas including visitor information centres in Burford, Witney and Woodstock
By telephoning 01993 861000
At other prominent town and village locations e.g. post offices, village shops and halls.

The Council is also reminding residents about the grant and deadline date in its Creating Futures newsletter which will be going out to all residents early December