Households in a North Yorkshire town hit by flash-flooding at least six years ago could finally get help to prevent a repeat of the incident.
More than £750,000 in funding is being sought for flood alleviation measures in Leyburn.
Dozens of homes were flooded in the town when heavy rainfall caused flooding in July 2019.
In total, more than 200 properties in the Yorkshire Dales were affected when a month’s rain fell in just four hours.
While funding has already been provided for other communities in Wensleydale and Swaledale affected by the flooding, Leyburn has previously missed out.
A report prepared by officers states that the Leyburn scheme had previously been placed on hold after government flood funding cuts and changes to national funding priorities.
However, new funding rules introduced by DEFRA and the Environment Agency mean the project is once again eligible for significant support.
The authority has now applied for £415,274 from the Environment Agency’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid programme alongside a further £340,000 from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy fund.
The total estimated value of the Leyburn scheme is now around £850,000, with North Yorkshire Council contributing approximately £95,000 from its existing flood risk management budget.
So far initial surveys have been carried out at 23 properties.
Leyburn and Middleham division councillor, Karin Sedgwick, welcomed the funding bid which she said would help homes affected in the Mount Drive area, in particular.
She said: “It’s really good news. Officers are hoping to hold an engagement in Leyburn to register the remaining properties which haven’t had surveys done.”
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