Antrim and Newtownabbey: 30 households in borough receive payment after flooding

Thirty households in the borough were supported through the scheme which provides a one-off payment of £1,000 to eligible residents who experienced “severe inconvenience, distress, or disruption as a result of exceptional weather”, a committee report said.

The report, presented to the borough council’s Operations Committee, at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre, on Tuesday evening, explained eligibility is determined through an assessment process undertaken by district councils in line with DfC (Department for Communities) guidelines, which consider factors such as the extent of flooding impact, level of household disruption, and vulnerability of affected residents.

The scheme is intended to provide a discretionary payment to assist with “immediate practical needs in the aftermath of an emergency”. This may include support for replacement of essential household items and cleaning costs, for example, the committee was advised.

Eligibility is determined through an assessment process undertaken by district councils. It is administered in the borough through Antrim and Newtownabbey Council’s environmental health service.

The committee was also told the council’s cleansing section “played a key operational role during the response and recovery phase” which included the “removal of flood-damaged materials, assistance with clearance of affected areas, and support to residents and businesses undertaking initial clean-up operations”.

In response to a query, an officer told the committee one or two applications may have been unsuccessful as there is “very specific guidance” in relation to the scheme although it was “not unusual to have one or two that do not meet criteria”.

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Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster asked if there were any “lessons learned from getting money out to people”.

Colin Kelly, head of environmental health and well-being, said: “I think we are well-practised in this. The scheme works very well. Sometimes there is criticism that there is not enough correspondence to let people know about the scheme.”

He indicated it is highlighted on social media, by “knocking on doors” and by “word of mouth”. “The problem is outlying properties,” he acknowledged. Mr Kelly went on to say an application must be made within seven days from a flooding incident.

Cllr Foster commented: “Seven days is very tight especially for an elderly person. This could be a dramatic intervention for them.”

Mr Kelly recalled there have been incidents when residents have been on holiday and returned to find that their home has been flooded.

“We are pro-active for people to get applications in as soon as possible. We do try to help residents as much as we possibly can,” he stressed.

Storm Chandra lashed Northern Ireland resulting in high river levels and flooding in areas including the Riverside area of Antrim where residents had to be rescued from their homes.

Residential streets, private dwellings and some commercial premises were also affected in the borough leading to disruption, property damage and distress for affected residents, the report said.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter