JUST two weeks to go before the government misses the deadline to apply to the EU Solidarity Fund in the wake of December’s flooding disaster.
Tories pretend it’s not worth applying, even though the Government applied successfully after the floods in 2007 and received £130 million.
Julian Sturdy and the council leader want you to believe that any money we’d receive would be taken away by a reduction to the UK’s rebate. Mr Sturdy believes that compensating flooded householders is all that needs to be done.
They are wrong. While there would be a reduction in the UK rebate there would still be a significant financial benefit to applying for funding. I know because I have checked with a senior expert administering the fund.
Fixing the damage to people’s homes, while welcome, does nothing to address the escalating number of flooding events that are a direct consequence of climate change. Unless money is spent improving the resilience of flood barriers, roads, electricity sub-stations etc we will be back in the same boat (literally) very soon.
Refusing to apply for funding we are entitled to, for transparently political reasons, is a betrayal of our city’s future.
Christian Vassie, Wheldrake, York
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