Sixty homes, including Ottery ones, shared in �35,000 flood grant

THE success of a special pot of money, to help people protect their East Devon homes during widespread flooding in 2008, has been applauded by the South West Regional Flood Defence Committee this week.

A �35,000 fund was set up that winter with contributions from the Environment Agency, Devon County Council and East Devon District Council.

This meant applicants could ask for a grant of up to �500 towards the cost of flood boards and other products.

“This was a great way of helping people help themselves by defending their own home from flooding,” said Gordon Trapmore, EA’s flood and coastal risk manager for Devon and Cornwall.

“Over 60 properties in several East Devon towns and villages now benefit from flood gates, flood boards, air brick covers or other individual flood protection measures making the residents feel safer from flooding whenever it rains.”

He said it was a great example of how effective a relatively small amount of money could be used to reduce local flood problems in locations where a large defence scheme was unlikely to be viable.

The SWRFD committee advises on flood and coastal risk management and flood defences.