Andrews checks recovery of East Riding of Yorkshire

Communities Minister, Baroness Andrews, has seen first hand the recovery facing rural East Riding following the floods in June.

The Minister toured the area on the 9th August to see how the £1.6 million Government aid is being spent to help those in the most urgent need get back on their feet.

Over 1000 people in the county have so far benefited from emergency Government aid through the 'Real Aid' programme. They have received either money or household goods such as fridges, freezers and furnishings help them return back to normality.

During her visit Baroness Andrews saw how communities in Market Weighton and Hessle have been affected. She visited a children's damaged play area and a sheltered housing scheme.

She saw how government aid is being used to ensure that vital sports and recreation facilities are being brought back to life in time for the busy school holidays. Residents in Springville Avenue showed the minister their flooded homes and the discussed with her the challenges ahead.

Commenting on her visit Barnoness Andrews said: "I have been immensely impressed with the way the people of Market Weighton and Hessle have dealt with such adversity over the last weeks. I want to praise the emergency services who worked tirelessly when the floods hit and also East Riding Council who have been working all hours to get this community back to normality. But my greatest admiration has been for all the families who have had to cope with such devastation and disturbances and their families and friends who are still helping them.

"Government for our part is doing everything possible to support affected communities get back on their feet. We have already distributed £10m to those in most urgent need and will continue to assess what additional help is needed in the coming weeks.

"We have also announced that the Bellwin scheme has been amended to take account of the special circumstances of the floods so that councils will be able to recoup 100% of their costs and have up to six months to claim."

Brian Blenkinsop, whose mother's home in Springville Avenue, Hessle, was badly damaged, said: "It has been a devastating experience and my mum has basically lost everything, including furniture my dad, a joiner, made when he was alive which, of course, you can never replace. The kitchen has been replaced now and we are hoping the decorators can get in next week but it will be a few more weeks before mum can move back permanently.

"The Council has given us terrific back-up and we have had to liaise with various people and departments but we have had a really positive response. Everyone is doing their best in circumstances you've never seen before and hopefully will never see again!"