Cumbria flood recovery

Since communities in Cumbria suffered devastating flooding in November 2009, Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with the local area to ensure Government does all it can to support their recovery. Government and the North West Development Agency (NWDA) has provided direct financial assistance in addition to support and advice to the Cumbria area. For example, the £1million Community Recovery Grant (external link) for local authorities to use to help local people and businesses, the £2.95million worth of schemes to provide assistance to businesses, the farming and tourism industries along with funding and additional support to the local authorities.

Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham also announced that the Bellwin scheme, which provides financial support to Local Authorities in the event of an emergency, will be set at 100 per cent rather than 85 per cent.

On Sunday 22 November 2009 Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton visited the region to see for herself how recovery efforts are helping those affected by the recent flooding. She paid tribute to the efforts of the emergency services who have been working tirelessly to tackle the floods and support their communities, sometimes at great personal cost.