A second round of grants to help homeowners protect their property from flooding has been announced by the Government. The 2.6 million pounds goes to almost thirty local authorities who will be responsible for delivering the Property Level Flood Protection Grant Scheme and will be able to tailor projects to the needs of their communities.

The authorities are in several areas of England, including four in Cumbria, the scene of the most recent serious flooding. The Grant Scheme is part of the Government response to Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the 2007 floods.

The second phase of grants will go to 34 projects in areas at high risk of flooding. It will allow 532 households to install practical measures such as airbrick covers, storm porches, door guards and flood boards. The first round of 3 million pounds in funding went to 25 councils to protect almost 600 homes.

Environment Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, said there were 490,000 properties at significant risk of river or coastal flooding in England and since 2007 action had been taken on a range of fronts to prevent the heart breaking damage and destruction that could be caused by floods. “In the future we must be prepared for more extreme weather on all levels,” he said.

The Environment Agency Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Robert Runcie, welcomed the latest funding and urged individuals and businesses at risk of flooding to make their property more resistant as well as to sign up to the Agency’s free flood warning service.