PCC meets with those affected by flooding

Cheshire police and crime commissioner David Keane has met with two groups supporting those affected by last month’s flooding.

It’s after he provided emergency funding to a number of community groups who are supporting local people to recover.

The flooding, caused by Storm Christoph, saw a number of residents across the county evacuated from their homes.

The commissioner held a virtual meeting with Pantry for Blacon and the Roy Humphrey’s Centre who both received £1,000 grants from the PCC’s Safer Communities Fund to support residents in their respective Chester and Warrington.

The PCC’s meetings was an opportunity find out what the current situation is in both areas and how the funding has helped residents recover.

Both organisations used the funding to purchase essential supplies for those whose homes have been flooded.

Cllr Sheila Little, who runs Pantry for Blacon, explained how they’ll be using the funding to support residents who’ve lost possessions as a result of the funding. It’s after houses on Browning Close and Parkgate Road were evacuated.

Amanda Gillespie, charity leader at Roy Humphrey’s Centre, told the commissioner they’d carried out a needs assessment locally to ensure the funding benefits those most at need in the Longford area – which is the community the centre supports. She said that some residents are still waiting to return to their homes and need essential supplies to keep them going.

The grant from the commissioner has come from a funding pot which takes money from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA 2002) and reinvests it back into the community.

The emergency fund has also been used over the last year to support Cheshire residents through the Covid-19 pandemic with more than £80,000 already awarded.

PCC David Keane said: “The floods which hit parts of Cheshire last month were devastating for many residents and businesses as they saw flood waters consume their properties with many losing prized possessions.

“These floods came at a time of already increased hardship in our communities with many vulnerable residents still very much feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s fantastic to see so many community groups like Pantry for Blacon and the Roy Humphrey’s Centre coming together to respond and support vulnerable people.

“I’m pleased that my Safer Communities Fund can help fund their heroic efforts and I look forward to continuing to support them in the future.”

The Safer Communities express grant fund is still accepting applications. For more information and an application form, please visit: https://www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-i-do/making-cheshire-safer/proceeds-of-crimecommunity-fund/

Pictured - PCC David Keane on the virtual meeting with Cllr Sheila Little from Pantry for Blacon, Amanda Gillespie from the Roy Humphrey’s Centre and Caroline Tozer from his office.