Coastal grants deadline extended

East Riding Council set up the fund worth £150,000 to enable individuals, groups and businesses in the region to develop “unique” approaches to coastal change and flood risk management.

Grants from £500 to £30,000 can be awarded to projects that promote coastal adaptation and resilience under the Coastal Change Pathfinder scheme.

The deadline for applications was May 6 but has now been put back until May 18 to take into account the three bank holidays.

The fund was approved by the council’s cabinet last month, and followed an agreement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to award the authority £1.2m for the pathfinder project, after lobbying by councillors.

The aim of the pathfinder project is not to provide compensation for loss but to give practical assistance to the most vulnerable and those at risk as a result of coastal change.

Announcing the scheme, Council leader Stephen Parnaby said: “I am delighted that this new fund has been set up to add to the assistance available through the Coastal Pathfinder scheme.

“The council has worked tirelessly on behalf of isolated and vulnerable communities on the coast and pathfinder has been a welcome response from Government for people who previously did not have access to any help to cope with their predicament.”

Only one application has been formally submitted but the council said it has had several expressions of interest.

An independent panel will decide who gets grants.

Forms for expressing interests are available by calling 01482 391728. They can also be downloaded by following the “Coastal Change Pathfinder” link on the www.eastriding.gov.uk website.