A Wiltshire MP is to meet Environment Agency officials to discuss the recent flooding that has affected businesses and residents in the county.

Michelle Donelan, the MP for Chippenham and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, will meet officials at 4pm tomorrow (Friday, January 12) in Bradford on Avon.

The meeting follows last week’s flooding in the town centre and concerns that businesses and residents were left to fend for themselves.

Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency say they no longer provide sandbags to help residents and businesses prevent their premises from flooding.

Wiltshire Times: Bradford on Avon residents and businesses were impacted by last week's flooding in the town centre.Bradford on Avon residents and businesses were impacted by last week's flooding in the town centre. (Image: Trevor Porter)

The agency also withdrew from service the temporary flood defence barrier that it has employed at the Bull Pit over the past few years when the River Avon bursts its banks.

The MP is also likely to have discussions about the possibility of finding government funding for the £1 million flood alleviation scheme proposed by the agency six years ago.

In the meantime, following the recent flooding caused by Storm Henk, Wiltshire Council is advising any significantly impacted homeowners or businesses to apply for Government grant funding.

There are several different types of support, depending on the damage and the type of property affected, including:

  • Community Recovery Grant: grants of up to £500 to help affected severely affected flooding households with their immediate recovery.
  • Business Recovery Grant: up to £2,500 per small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to support businesses that have suffered severe impacts from the floods.
  • Council Tax Discount: 100 per cent council tax relief, for a minimum of three months, for residents whose property has been flooded, or which is considered unliveable, as a consequence of Storm Henk.
  • Business Rates Relief: 100 per cent relief from business rates, for a minimum of three months, for businesses directly impacted by Storm Henk.
  • Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme: grants of up to £5,000 will be made available to eligible local authorities to help homes and businesses to become more resilient to flooding by helping to pay for a range of property improvements.
  • Farming Recovery Fund: Farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their land will be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 towards repair and reinstatement costs for farmers adversely affected by exceptional flooding.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, the council’s cabinet member for flooding, said: “We know just how badly the recent Storm Henk has affected homes and businesses across Wiltshire, with people in Bradford on Avon, Marlborough and Salisbury particularly hit by rising water levels.

“I’d urge anyone who has been the victim of flooding as a result of Storm Henk to contact us as the first step in receiving grant funding.

“As things are moving quickly at this stage, we are still awaiting further information from the Government about how exactly people can claim this funding, which is why we’re asking people to contact us in the first place and we’ll then advise them on how they can apply in full.”

Homeowners and businesses that have been affected by flooding from Storm Henk should contact the council on  stormhenksupport@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Any homeowners and businesses affected by Storm Babet can apply for grants of up to £5,000 until Monday, January 15. To find out more,  go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/civil-emergencies-flooding