Flood-hit areas to share in £31m

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A further £31m funding for areas affected by last year's floods, floods recovery minister John Healey has said.

Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury, Swindon, Hull, South Yorkshire and East Riding will share the cash from the government's special restoration fund.

This money is on top of £100m provided by the government to date.

It includes a further £17m also announced today by transport minister Rosie Winterton to repair roads and bridges damaged by the floods.

Mr Healey has spent time meeting one family in Tewkesbury whose home was hit by the floods in July, forcing them to live in a caravan

Father Tim Aston said the minister had asked about their experiences.

"I said we don't feel bitter, that living in a caravan as a family had been challenging but that for us it was in the past now," said Mr Aston.

Restoration fund allocations £7.5m to Hull bringing their total support to date to almost £15.5m£4.1m to authorities in Gloucestershire bringing their total support to date to almost £29m£7m to authorities in South Yorkshire bringing their total support to date to £28.5m£4m to East Riding bringing their total support to date to £15.2m

Mr Healey had also been keen to explain how detailed work goes on in the background before any new plans are accepted for building on floodplains.

"When they assured me a lot of work goes on behind the scenes with regard to planning where and how water is managed and what impact there will be on existing properties I feel reassured," said Mr Aston.

"He assured me a lot of work goes into balancing new housing with existing homes."

Announcing the funding Mr Healey said: "I have been impressed by people's resilience and how communities have pulled together to get back on their feet.

"I am able to announce that 62 local authorities will receive a share of a further £31m to support their continued efforts to rebuild their communities. They will be free to spend this as they see fit, depending on local priorities.

"The announcement of £17m more to repair roads and bridges will be a welcome double cash boost for some areas."

Earlier this week Mr Healey announced the number of flood-hit families still out of their homes has fallen by a quarter in the last month and the number living in caravans has halved.

It means around 3,400 households are either living in temporary accommodation, in caravans or the top floor of their homes - down from 5,659 at the end of April.