Communities can bid for help with flooding

A MILLION-POUND fund is now availble for communities across West Sussex to bid for, to help them prepare against the threat of flooding.
Littlehampton and Lancing, pictured, are just two local areas which have been hit by floodingLittlehampton and Lancing, pictured, are just two local areas which have been hit by flooding
Littlehampton and Lancing, pictured, are just two local areas which have been hit by flooding

Th county council’s Operation Watershed’s Active Communities Fund – set up in 2013 to help tackle flooding issues – has now been extended for a further year.

Last year, £1.25million was dished out to community groups across the county to help them with projects such as digging new drainage ditches, clearing out culverts and dredging ponds.

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The public response to the fund was so great that the county council decided to approve a further fund of £1million to help similar community projects this year.

It comes after the wettest start to the year in West Sussex since records began.

Councillor Lionel Barnard, the council’s cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “Due to popular demand, we have extended the Active Communities Fund for another year.

“We want to support projects that make our communities more resilient to flooding and protect people and their homes. We are encouraging parish councils, flood action groups or any other community group to apply.”

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To be eligible for the fund, any application must fit the following three criteria: be made by an established community group in West Sussex, with its own banking facilities; address issues relating to flooding, flood alleviation and/or flood resilience and demonstrate a commitment to developing future flood management strategies in the area.

County Council officers will be available to assist groups throughout the application process, and advise on any technical issues that arise.

Anyone who would like more information should send an email to [email protected]

Alternatively, people should log on to the website www.westsussex.gov.uk and type ‘Operation Watershed’ in the search bar.

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