Press Release December 1 2009
Cash to Protect Against Flooding
PROPERTIES in Whalley and Ribchester are to receive cash for flood protection.
The funds have been made available from the Government's £5million Flood Protection Grant Scheme, which will help 562 households in flood risk areas across the UK.
Nearly £120,000 has been made available for properties in Whalley and Ribchester towards flood defence measures, such as flood boards for doors, floodgates and vent covers.
Whalley and Ribchester regular suffer from low-level flooding from the River Calder and Boyce's Brook.
Stuart Hirst, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council's health and housing committee, said: "We are delighted that this money has been available to help properties at risk of flooding and would urge anyone living in a flood risk area to register for Floodline."
The number of flood risk properties in Whalley and Ribchester registered for the Environment Agency's Floodline has increased from 25 to 75 per cent following a council campaign.
Councillor Hirst added: "Floodline take-up in Ribble Valley has traditionally been low, but we recently delivered leaflets to two of the borough's four flood risk areas encouraging them to register. Since then registration has risen to 75 per cent, which is a significant improvement."
Floodline is a free service that provides flood warnings to householders by telephone, text, e-mail and fax.
The four flood risk areas in Ribble Valley are Whalley (near the River Calder), Ribchester, Low Moor, Clitheroe, and Taylor Street (near Mearley Brook), Clitheroe.
To sign up for Floodline, phone 0845 988 1188.
* Ribble Valley Borough Council has also produced a range of leaflets outlining how to prepare for a flood or clean up afterwards. The leaflets, called Flooding Information for Ribble Valley and Cleaning Up After a Flood, are available by phoning the council on 01200 425111.
Pic cap: Stuart Hirst, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council's health and housing committee.
Ends.
Ref: PR5109.
Date: December 1 2009.
