Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has questioned the government over the eligibility criteria for funding support from the Flood Recovery Framework.
The MP raised the confusion surrounding eligibility for flood recovery support announced on 6th January with the Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt.
Despite many Bath residents suffering damage to their properties, Bath & North East Somerset Council is not eligible for funding available through the Flood Recovery Framework, leaving damage victims without support as they deal with clean-up costs.
Wera Hobhouse pointed out that Bath had been issued warnings prior to the recent floods, and yet received no financial support in its aftermath.
During her speech, she praised the local authority for its management of the flooding.
The Bath MP then criticised the government’s assessment that the district was not eligible for financial support because too few properties were damaged internally.
Mrs Hobhouse asked for a ministerial statement to explain why certain council areas had been excluded from funding through the Flood Recovery Framework and what the government were doing to help councils that had been substantially damaged by flooding.
In her response, the Leader of the House praised emergency services and other authorities that had been working hard to protect communities from snow, floods and high winds in recent weeks.
She assured Mrs Hobhouse that she would raise the uncertainty surrounding eligibility for flood recovery funding with the relevant Secretary of State.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, commented: “It’s absurd that Bath is not eligible for flood recovery support despite many residents suffering material damage to their homes and businesses.
“The government is offering no comfort to flood victims who must now undertake a huge clean-up operation to repair significant external damage. It is simply not good enough.”
