THE First Minister has confirmed that households in Fife affected by flooding due to Storm Gerrit will be eligible for a recovery grant.
John Swinney announced on Thursday that funds will be made available to Fife Council to support households and businesses in Cupar flooded as a result of Storm Gerrit, on the same basis as the support provided to those worst affected by Storm Babet.
A grant of £1500 will be available for eligible households, and £3000 to businesses.
Swinney said the Scottish Government takes the issue of flood resilience “very seriously”, adding that the grant will be made available for residents “as swiftly as possible”.
The Scottish Government confirmed it is working with Fife Council to finalise details of the application process and eligibility, adding that further details will be made available as soon as possible.
Swinney confirmed the approach in a letter to Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife.
Read the full letter below.
Dear Willie
Flood support for Cupar residents and businesses
Thank you for raising the issue of support for Cupar residents and businesses impacted by flooding from Storm Gerrit.
I can assure you that Scottish Ministers take the issue of flood resilience and the impacts on local communities very seriously. We know that in the face of climate change improving flood resilience is one of the largest adaptation challenges we face.
Responsibility for flood resilience is primarily that of the occupier of a property, and then for a Local Authority to consider community level resilience. It is only in extreme cases where local resources have been exhausted that the Scottish Government will provide support. We are developing a Flood Recovery Framework to add greater clarity to when the Government will provide support around flooding events.
In the particular case of Cupar, you will be glad to know that I have instructed my officials to work with Fife Council to provide the same level of support as was provided for those residents and businesses impacted by Storm Babet. As you will understand this process of awarding grants needs to be robust and so there will be a short delay as Fife Council put this in place, but I have been clear that this should be achieved as swiftly as possible.
I hope this news will be of comfort to your constituents.
