Flood ravaged Teesside residents welcome Government aid move

Teessiders devastated by the region’s flash floods have welcomed urgent official moves to apply for emergency Government cash aid

Teessiders hit hard by the region’s devastating floods today welcomed official moves to apply for emergency Government cash aid.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop and Redcar and Cleveland Council leader George Dunning are writing to Local Government Minister Eric Pickles to urgently demand the immediate release of emergency cash help for the council and local communities affected by last week’s disastrous flooding. One of the worst hit areas was St Joseph’s Court, Redcar, where residents could be out of their homes for months.

Married mum of one, Leanne Moscrop, 33, who lives in the street, said: “I welcome this move. Residents here need all the help they can get.

“We’re forming a committee to try and help take this forward. We need urgent action from all agencies to prevent this ever happening again.”
Kirkleatham Owl Centre, near Redcar, lost five birds which drowned in the floods.

Spokesman Craig Wesson said: “This is a very positive idea. We have at least a couple of thousand pounds’ damage to aviaries and fencing and sheds.”
Mr Blenkinsop said: “The council’s preparing a formal request for help under the Bellwin scheme. This covers many areas, including removal of fallen trees dangerous to the public and repairs to highways, pavements and footpaths and cost of evacuating people from homes and temporary rehousing.

“If this cash is released it could be possible to supplement it with help for individuals and families who have suffered directly via the council’s own hardship welfare fund.”
Cllr Dunning said: “Lots of people have suffered from these floods. We’ll respond to people’s requests to clean and make safe affected communities, but can’t do this on our own.”

Meanwhile, a vital Teesside women’s refuge has suffered tens of thousands of pounds damage in the destructive torrential storm which has devastated the region. But the Redcar area’s Foundation UK refuge for women and children fleeing abuse want people to know they are still fully operating despite suffering extensive damage to a quarter of their large, modern premises and its contents.