Grant To Help During Flooding

12 April 2011, 14:15 | Updated: 12 April 2011, 14:17

The Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue service team is to receive a grant worth £35,500 from Defra to help equip and train them to deal with local flood emergencies.

The money will be used to buy boats, vehicles and support equipment.

Announcing the new funding, Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:

“In the event of a large-scale flood, it is important that we can call upon manpower and equipment from a wide range of emergency services and voluntary groups.

“Through this scheme we have already provided 35 grants to local flood rescue teams to improve their flood rescue capabilities.  I am pleased that today we have been able to announce funding for a further 16 organisations to buy vital flood rescue equipment helping to improve England’s flood response.”

Paul Fuller, Chief Fire Officer welcomed the grant saying:

“This grant is excellent news for Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service and the community we serve. The funding will help us to improve our water and flood rescue equipment and resources – we will also be able to assist our neighbouring fire services in times of need.

16 local organisations involved in flood rescue activities will receive grants amounting to a total £823,720.

The grants are part of the £2.7million Flood Rescue Grant Scheme to improve flood response in England and Wales. So far a total of 45 organisations have benefited from funding, including those announced today.

All the equipment bought with the Defra funding will be added to the National Asset Register of flood rescue resources that emergency services across the country can call upon in the event of a major flood.