A COUNCIL has announced that immediate financial support will be provided to homes and businesses that have been hit by flooding following the impact of Storm Dennis.

Householders in Worcester who have been flooded will be given 100% Council Tax relief and firms will also get 100% relief on Business Rates if they have been hit by the extreme weather event. In both cases the discounts will last for three months.

The announcement follows the Government’s confirmation of a package of support for councils in flood-hit areas.

For homes and businesses where Worcester City Council already has confirmation of flooding, notification of the relief will be sent out by post or email, depending on how people have chosen to receive their Council Tax or Business Rates bills.

Flood-hit households can apply to the City Council for up to £500 in financial hardship payments to give cash quickly to those in short-term need.

Business Recovery Grants of up to £2,500 will also be available for small-to-medium sized firms that have been flooded and suffered severe, uninsurable losses.

For longer term support, grants of up to £5,000 will be available to flood-hit homes and businesses to help them to become more resilient to flooding in the future.

Applications for all flood recovery financial support and tax relief can be made at worcester.gov.uk/flooding.

Worcester City Council Leader Councillor Marc Bayliss said: “I welcome the Government’s announcement of this support programme and I am pleased that we are able to act quickly to give financial aid to homes and businesses that have been hit so hard by these devastating floods.

“I would encourage anyone who has been flooded and thinks that they require Council Tax or Business Rates relief to make contact as soon as possible.

“All this comes in addition to the multi-agency recovery operation to help people hit by these floods, in which Worcester City Council is a very active partner.”