Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is launching a Community Flood Action Fund which will provide small grants for works that will reduce flooding.
The SRA’s initiative will be launched on 10 December 2024, with up to £200,000 a year available, split into grants of between £3,000 and £20,000.
Rode Parish Council is a body that is able to apply for such grants, and the PC is therefore keen to hear from parishioners who have suggestions for projects which could be subject to a grant application. Please submit any suggestions to the Parish Council: https://www.rodevillage.com/contact/
The SRA wants to help people with good local knowledge of flooding problems take practical actions with obvious benefits that can be achieved quite quickly.
Applications for Community Flood Action Fund grants will need to satisfy the SRA’s core purpose of “reducing the risks and impacts of flooding”.
The deadline for the first round of applications will be 25 February 2025, and full information will be available on the SRA website, from 10th December.
Bids will be judged by a review panel in March, and successful applicants will receive funding from April.
To qualify for a grant….
- Works must be in Somerset, in the area covered by Somerset Council.
- Works must accord with the first of the SRA’s five objectives, ideally more.
- Works might include maintaining flood defence features, making improvements to flood defence features, or creating flood defence features.
- Grants may be used for getting permits or doing surveys essential for a project to happen.
- Works must be started and completed within a reasonable timescale.
- Grants cannot be used for coastal flooding protection projects.
- Grants cannot benefit only a single household, landowner or business.
- Grants cannot be used for flood recovery activities or emergency response initiatives.
- Grants cannot be used for works costing over £20,000. The £20,000 ceiling includes any match funding you might get from elsewhere.
- Grants cannot be used for investigations or feasibility studies.