Hastings misses flooding compensation by three days

Hastings residents and businesses have missed out on a government fund for victims of flooding as the damage happened three days too late.

Flooding hit the town on 28 October, several days after Storm Babet caused widespread damage across the UK.

The government said the area was not eligible for the Flood Recovery Framework, set up to compensate businesses and home-owners.

A Hastings business leader described the decision as "frankly incredible".

Flooded households could have applied for up to £500 and properties significantly affected could have been eligible for 100% council tax and business rate relief for at least three months.

Small-to-medium sized businesses in affected areas could have been eligible for a Business Recovery Grant of up to £2,500 with property owners also able to apply for £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to flooding.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said it continued to work with partners in Hastings to fully understand the scale of the flooding's impact.

The government fund was opened to help those affected by Storm Babet between 19 and 25 October.

Hastings town centre has suffered from two notable floods this year, with the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre being evacuated last month.

Hastings Business Improvement District manager John Bownas said: "Just 10 months after we were last hit like this, the aftermath of Storm Babet brought tens of thousands of litres of floodwater rushing through the town. Businesses and homes have once again been ruined and left facing huge bills for damage that many simply can't get insurance for any more.

"It's frankly incredible that the government is failing to recognise the scale of this impact and is cutting us out of the eligibility window for financial assistance."

Chef Houssan Bencaid, who works at Khalid's Kitchen in the shopping centre, said: "I think it is not very fair to be honest because Hastings is affected by floods quite a lot.

"I think it [flooding] is a bit inevitable. It is always going to happen so there should be preparations," he added.

The chef said he estimated the business had lost a "substantial" amount of money due to the flooding.

Hastings MP Sally-Anne Hart said both she and East Sussex County Council had asked the DLUHC for the cut-off date to be extended.

She added: "We are all trying to ensure that flooded properties in Hastings town centre caused by unprecedented amounts of water surface runoff due to Storm Babet receive the financial support they need from the Flood Recovery Grant."

A DLUHC spokesperson said: "We understand how devastating flooding is for the communities, households and businesses affected and continue to work with partners in Hastings to fully understand the scale of impact from the recent severe weather.

"As soon as we receive further details from Hastings, we will be able to assess how best to support them."

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