DEFRA to fund gravel clear-up on flood hit farms

A £500,000 emergency fund has been set up to help farmers clear debris and gravel left behind by last month’s floods in Cumbria.

DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn announced the funding package on Wednesday (16 December).

Farmers can apply to LAGs for grants of up to £6800 to make their land usable again by moving gravel and other debris, such as household items and vehicles.

DEFRA is also urgently exploring the scope for further support for those farmers whose costs may exceed this figure.

Some £1.2m will be provided to the local community to help flooded businesses and farmers rebuild trade, local tourism and other local initiatives over the next year.

Mr Benn said: “The effects of the extreme weather in Cumbria have caused a lot of distress and made life difficult for many people, including farmers.

Many farmers had been severely affected, with large quantities of stones and other debris washed on to their fields, he added.

“In the short term, the funding will be a big help to farmers to make their land usable again and to allow livestock back to graze.

“We will continue to work with local farmers to find the best way to dispose of, or reuse, the gravel and debris left behind.”

The funding is being made available through the government’s Rural Development Programme for England. The money is in addition to £2m already pledged to communities in Cumbria that have been affected by flooding.

This includes £1m from central government and £1m from the Northwest Regional Development Agency.