It’s been a tough time for Whaley Bridge. The good news is, there’s insurance and there’s government support.
Over the weekend the government announced that businesses impacted by the Whaley Bridge evacuation will receive emergency funding to cover uninsurable costs. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has committed to match regional support of £100,000 delivered through the local Business Recovery Fund.
“The recent bad weather has had an enormously disruptive impact on the Whaley Bridge economy,” noted Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom. “We’re providing £100,000 of emergency funding to affected businesses to help them get back up and running as quickly as possible. We’re also working with the local authority and partners to ensure practical support on the ground.”
This comes as the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government activates the emergency Bellwin scheme to reimburse local authorities for the immediate costs they have paid out amid the emergency in Derbyshire as well as flooding in Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire.
“Under the scheme, local authorities dealing with the Whaley Bridge emergency and for flooding in Wainfleet and Richmondshire can apply to have 100% of the money they have spent, above a threshold, reimbursed by the government,” stated the August 10 joint announcement. “This could be for items including rest centres, temporary accommodation, and staff overtime.
“A further package of support, including £150,000 of funding will also go to High Peak Borough Council, which includes the town of Whaley Bridge, to support their initiatives to help the recovery of the local economy.”
Meanwhile in Wainfleet and North Yorkshire where farms have been badly hit by unprecedented rainfall, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is making up to £2 million available for affected farming businesses. In addition, a £3 million investment from the Department for Transport will see the replacement of two damaged bridges in Yorkshire.
