Flooding preparation grants awarded by council

Four projects are to receive money from West Sussex County Council as part of "Operation Watershed".

The purpose of Operation Watershed is to help people work with the council to prepare for, or reduce the risk of, flooding in the area.

The sum, totalling £215,346.44, was approved by Deborah Urquhart, cabinet member for environment & climate change, on 29 October.

Since it was launched in 2013/14, Operation Watershed has helped 495 projects and handed out more than £4.4million in that time, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The biggest grant was awarded to Tarring Flood Action Group, which will receive £76,616.21.

Homes and businesses in Tarring have been affected by flooding which often blights the area.

The money will be used to replace and add gullies and carry out surfacing work at various junctions in the neighbourhood close to Worthing.

Other groups receiving the grants are Wisborough Green Parish Council (£22,841.25), Apuldram Parish Meeting (£61,855.38) and Harting Parish Council (£54,033.60).

After the money has been handed out, around £40,000 will be left in the 2024/25 Operation Watershed budget. 

A further £1,774,000 will be in the capital programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

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