Minister checks out flood-hit Croston
SMALL business minister Anna Soubry has visited the flood-hit Lancashire village of Croston.
Her visit to meet business owners affected by Storm Eva follows the announcement that up to £6m is available to provide immediate support following the Boxing Day deluge.
The Department for Business has provided the business recovery support package to help businesses affected by the flooding, which resulted from record rainfall during the recent storm.
This adds to the £5m already announced by the government to help businesses in Lancashire and Cumbria affected by Storm Desmond earlier in December 2015.
Soubry said: “I came to Croston to see for myself the challenges faced by business owners in the wake of the recent flooding and to listen to their concerns about a number of issues, from flood defences to the availability of insurance cover.
“It’s been a devastating Christmas for many of them and it’s vital for small firms in particular to start trading again as soon as possible.
“The £6m package is there to help them get back on their feet and it was great to see those that have already done so.”
Soubry visited businesses including Fresco Fresco, an Italian restaurant that is back up and running following flood damage, and The Wheatsheaf pub which is in the process of making repairs.
The minister also visited Croston Sports Club, which was the nerve-centre of flood operations and provided makeshift accommodation for families who could not return home due to the floodwaters.
The £6m provided by the Department for Business forms part of a wider £50m relief package announced by Communities Secretary Greg Clark, available immediately to support households and businesses.
