County gets less flood recovery cash than neighbouring areas

10:15am Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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THE government's decision to give surrounding areas more flood recovery cash than Gloucestershire has been labelled "a shame" by a North Cotswold civic leader.

Cllr Julie Girling, Campden-Vale ward's representative on Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet member responsible for environmental issues, responded after the government announced how much money it would give individual areas to fund ongoing recovery from last July's devastating floods.

Gloucestershire County Council is among 62 local authorities nationally that will share a £31 million flood restoration fund taken from a £110 million European Union (EU) Solidarity Fund payment The county council will receive £1.5 million, which is less than the £1.7 million Cheltenham Borough Council will get.

However, the county council will receive £6.5 million from the Department for Transport to repay money spent on repairing flood-damaged roads and bridges.

Gloucestershire has now received a total of £21.8 million from the government for flood repairs, although the £1.5 million is not restricted to flooding which theoretically means it can be spent elsewhere.

Cllr Girling said, "We have been working very hard to try and make the government understand the true cost to Gloucestershire of last year's floods and how much money the county needs to continue its recovery.

"I welcome any extra money we can get into Gloucestershire to fight flooding.

"I'm pleased the government has kept to the agreement to refund some of our road costs - that is welcome.

"It is a shame that we haven't had as much of the EU flood cash as some other areas.

"If the Government had passed on the whole £110m from the EU, the county council would have had an extra £3.5m to spend on cutting the danger of future floods in Gloucestershire."

She also expressed admiration for the county council highways department's dedication in repairing flood-damaged roads.

Three roads around Chipping Campden, Westington Hill, Sheep Street and Catbrook underwent repairs costing a total of £150,000, while drainage improvements are planned for Winchcombe.