Yorkshire Dales communities get extra £250,000 to aid recovery from 2019 floods

The decision means up to £250,000 in extra funding will be available to aid people and businesses in the Dales, many of who remain under severe financial strain nearly ten months on from the flooding.

More than 300 homes, 30 businesses and 50 farms in Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale were affected after a month’s typical rainfall came down in just two hours last July.

Around £250,000 has already been raised locally and is being administered by the Two Ridings Community Foundation, which has lobbied the Government to match the funding as it did after other major floods around the country.

The decision was revealed in a letter to Richmond MP and Chancellor Rishi Sunak by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.

In February, the coalition of bodies behind the ongoing recovery efforts wrote to Mr Jenrick pressing for the £300,000 made available to flooded areas, such as villages in South Yorkshire, which were inundated in November.

In response, junior minister Rebecca Pow said government recovery schemes are only usually deployed exceptionally, following severe weather events which have significant impacts across multiple authorities.

Jan Garrill, Chief Executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation described the match-funding news as "fantastic" and said: “Many in these dales were so badly impacted by the devastating floods back in July 2019.

"Being able to match the generous local donations and serious fundraising efforts made with government funding means Two Ridings can continue to support the people whose homes, farms or small businesses were flooded and even now are still feeling the financial, practical and emotional impacts.

"Only this week we were hearing about the severe financial strain many are still under.

“We are especially grateful to local partners like Rishi Sunak MP, the NFU and local community and business leaders who have helped us make the case for this support.”

Mr Sunak said: “This is good news for the individuals and businesses still recovering from the devastating events of 10 months ago and now are also coping with the impact of Coronavirus.

“On the occasions I visited the area immediately after the flood, it was clear to me that the impact of the deluge would be felt for many months, possibly years, so this additional funding will help with the continuing recovery efforts.”

Richmondshire District Council leader Angie Dale said: ”I am delighted the government has recognised the severe hardship the communities of the Dales faced – and are still facing – as a result of these floods.

“As a council we added our backing to the pressure to release this match funding which will allow the Foundation to continue to provide the support these communities need.”

Around £5m in central government funding has been made available to the Dales to help its recovery since last summer, including £3m for North Yorkshire County Council to cover the cost of rebuilding two bridges swept away by the floods and £180,000 for Richmondshire District Council.