Sherwood MP Mark Spencer says financial help is at hand for those hit by flooding from Storm Henk in his latest column

With this, my first As I See It of 2024, I had hoped to begin the year by sharing my New Year’s resolutions or recounting my dire attempts at ‘Dry January’ over the years, but instead I must take this month’s column as an opportunity to address the utter devastation facing communities across our region following Storm Henk.

The situation in Newark and Sherwood has been grave, with more than 100 properties evacuated across Nottinghamshire due to life-threatening flood levels, the pain of which I know will be felt by residents for months to follow.

I have already met, and will continue to meet with, constituents whose homes and businesses have been significantly flooded and will be sure to follow individual cases closely as they develop.

At this point, I want to remind my constituents that a team of dedicated caseworkers in Hucknall are available to contact during weekly business hours and are already working incredibly hard to facilitate available support.

There is no doubt that climate change has contributed significantly to the extreme weather we are currently facing. It is even more apparent that, as high-speed winds and unrelenting rain continues to batter properties across Sherwood, tackling climate change is crucial to our national livelihood. Although the UK remains a climate-conscious world leader, it is increasingly important that we, as a country, continue to take decisive action to help mitigate its effects, which include flooding.

With that said, I am grateful to the Government for the support that has been announced for victims. The Flood Recovery Framework has officially been activated, providing flood-hit households with the eligibility to apply for up to £500 cash to help with immediate costs, as well as up to £5,000 to help make their homes more resilient to future flooding.

I recognise that it is not just homeowners that have been affected by the adverse weather, and that business owners across Sherwood have also faced substantial damage. That is why both affected households and businesses will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least three months to facilitate maximum recovery. Small-to-medium sized businesses in affected areas will also be eligible for up to £2,500 to help them return as quickly as possible to business as usual.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the unwavering resilience of our communities across Sherwood that never ceases to amaze me, especially during times like these. I cannot stress enough my understanding that these floods are not just an inconvenience for households across our region – they are soul destroying. I know from my visits to affected homes that this is a fate that no one deserves and want to thank flood wardens, community volunteers and emergency services across Sherwood who have banded together so seamlessly to support their neighbours through these trying times.

Although the Environment Agency has now declared an improving situation with both river and flood levels across Newark and Sherwood, I understand that many homes remain flooded, villages continue to be cut off and that some roads are still impassable. Considering this, I want to remind each and everyone of my constituents to remain safe even as the situation improves and urge all those who are eligible for financial support to contact their local council as soon as they are able.