Star date: 30th December 2015

IMMEDIATE £500 FOR LOWER BROUGHTON FLOOD VICTIMS

Salford City Council this afternoon launched an emergency £500 financial assistance package for victims of the Lower Broughton flood. The payment will be processed immediately. Residents just need to call into the Broughton Trust at Humphrey Booth Centre on Spike Island with ID and bank details.

Meanwhile, St Bonifaces Social Club, which was at the centre of the community relief operation, has wound down, with the Beacon Centre by Albion School now being the main collection point for donated goods.

Full details and contact numbers – click here

Salford City Council's flood relief operation went up a gear today with the announcement that households can now claim an immediate £500 compensation payment.

Letters were distributed around Lower Broughton estates affected by the flood stating that those who pay council tax by direct debit `will receive the payment directly into their bank accounts without needing to make a claim'.

Other affected households were told to download a form from the Council's website (see here), fill it in and take it to the Broughton Trust at the Humphrey Booth Centre on Spike Island (Heath Avenue), together with some ID including `official paperwork with a current address such as job centre letter, council tax bill, passport, utility bill or driving licence'. For those without computers and printers there are printed forms available at the Broughton Trust.

The Broughton Trust will be open from 8:30am until 3pm tomorrow, 31st December, and on Monday 4th January. After that, forms should be handed in at the Civic Centre in Swinton.

For those who aren't mobile, the Council will visit homes if people call 0161 794 8888. This is also the Salford Council line for anyone who needs emergency help with anything. Salix Homes also has a phone number 0800 218 2000 for more help.

The Salford Council £500 compensation follows Rochdale Council's swift action when it announced the payments to its flood hit residents two days ago. The payment will come as a relief for 72 year old Edward Gallimore, of Lacerta Mews. He and his father, who `celebrates' his 96th birthday tomorrow, have almost been living on cold food since the flood...

"Everything's gone" says Edward "But mainly it's my father's little chair and the gas cooker. I used the microwave but he doesn't like it and has only been eating sandwiches. I phoned Salix and they said because I wasn't insured I'd have to get my own cooker."

This afternoon a resident, herself hit by the flood, donated an armchair for Edward's dad. Now Edward is hoping to use the Council payment to get a new cooker.

Desperately needed white goods like cookers, fridges and freezers, have been donated and there are still calls out for more, but they have stopped being delivered by volunteers due to health and safety concerns...

"White goods delivery has been handed to Helping Hands, so if people need anything or have goods to donate they need to contact them" says Graham Cooper of the Broughton Trust "But people need to be aware that it won't happen in a day as the items need PAC testing and fitting. The charities Mustard Tree and Emmaus are joining with Helping Hands to do this."

Anyone needing fridges, freezers and cookers, or wishing to donate such goods should contact Helping Hands direct on 0161 793 9419.

Meanwhile, St Bonifaces Social Club which became the emergency relief centre for the community by the community, has now wound down, with the main relief HQ at the Beacon Centre next to Albion Academy (London Street, Salford, M6 6QT). The Beacon Centre is co-ordinating volunteers and taking donations but does not need any more food or clothes.

"The relief operation has been going at full blast for the last couple of days and virtually every property affected has been visited" local councillor Jim King told the Salford Star this afternoon "Much of the flood damaged property has now been taken out and removed by staff. We're now moving onto the next stage, delivering letters to every household affected for them to come into the Broughton Trust to process compensation.

"I'm very impressed with the community resilience and spirit here" he added "Even people who were affected themselves by the flood have rallied round and helped others who were also affected if they were elderly or frail. And people who were not affected didn't just stand back; they helped out as well, got stuck in and got their hands dirty. The community spirit has been excellent.

"The next step is an analysis of each property which will be carried out by Salix Homes, although some properties are privately owned, and they will come up with some kind of package to repair the damage. It's a huge job. The Government's Baroness Williams has said that she has accepted the need for some kind of compensation package, although we don't know the figures."

*For further details of the £500 financial assistance per household affected by the flood – see the Salford Council website –  or call into the Broughton Trust.

*For any emergency assistance call Salford Council 0161 794 8888 or Salix Homes on 0800 218 2000

*To receive or donate white goods call Helping Hands 0161 793 9419

To follow: how the Mocha Parade shops are coping with the flood

See also previous Salford Star articles on the flood...

*Salford Flood Support By The Community, For The Community – click here

* When The Going Gets Tough, Salford Gets Going... - click here

* Salford Flood Clear Up Begins Amidst Recriminations - click here

* Floods Devastate Lower Broughton - click here

* Salford floods as River Irwell Rises - click here