Local flood exhibition to offer advice to flood-affected homeowners

A specialist flood exhibition is being held to support flood-affected homeowners across Radcliffe and Bury.

Funded by Bury Council and organised by the National Flood Forum, the exhibition will be a chance for residents to seek advice about how to reinstate their homes following the winter floods. The National Flood Forum team will be available to give free, independent advice and bring along a range of sample products, services and information to enable residents to consider the best use of grants and surveys.

With many people being eligible for the £5,000 Resilience and Resistance grant the Flood Exhibition provides a good opportunity to see how this could be spent to help reduce the impact of any future flooding.

The flood exhibition will be held on Saturday 18 June from 11am to 2pm at Radcliffe United Reformed Church on Blackburn Street.

Bury Council, the Environment Agency and United Utilities representatives will also be at the event. The Environment Agency will be on hand to offer advice about before, during and after a flood and sign residents up to Floodline Warnings Direct – 0345 988 1188 – which is a free service that sends a direct message when flooding is expected, from rivers and the sea.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition Thomasin Sayers from the National Flood Forum said: “After the flood waters recede people are left with a lot of significant decisions to make. We recognise that for many people this may be the first time they’ve been flooded and often they don’t know where to start. It’s a stressful and emotional time for people which can make the challenge of rebuilding their homes even tougher.

“At the National Flood Forum we can offer you advice and support on the issues you’re facing. The Flood Exhibition provides people with the chance to talk through their situation, show different products that are available and discuss possible solutions.”

Mike Owen, chief executive of Bury Council, said: “The Boxing Day floods were the worst since records began, and caused a great deal of distress for many of our residents, especially on a day when families expected to be relaxing. Emergency responders were dealing with more than 70 serious incidents across the borough, and the response from the local community was magnificent.

“While there are no guarantees that such major incidents will never happen again, we can do our best to plan for emergencies and make sure our properties are as flood-proof as possible. We would encourage anyone affected by the flooding to come along to the meeting and talk to the organisations that can provide advice and support.”

Colette Jones, chair of the Radcliffe Flood Action Group, said: “I’m pleased the National Flood Forum is supporting us and helping to arrange this event with Bury Council. So many homes were affected on Boxing Day and many people are still out of their homes with a long way to go before they can consider moving back in. It’s a stressful time for many people.”

Colette has worked hard to help the community recover from the winter floods. She received recognition for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to a Township Forum’ as part of Bury Council’s Volunteer Awards during Volunteers Week (1–12 June) and is due to be recognised by the Radcliffe Rotary Club for her contribution on Monday 20 June.

The National Flood Forum is an independent, national charity supporting people who are affected by flooding. It works with individuals and communities to help them rebuild their lives after a flood and offer support to reduce the impact of future flooding should it occur. Further help is available from the National Flood Forum’s helpline on 01299 403055 or at www.floodforum.org.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 15 June 2016.