Newry, Mourne and Down District Council outlines first steps in distributing funding package support for businesses hit by flooding

Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 1st November 2023

Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

Flooding in Newry City Co Down.

Michael Nugent ice cream shop Newry.

The clean up operation has started in Newry, the owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations.

Water levels in the most heavily affected areas have receded overnight.

:The clean up operation has started in Newry. The owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas receded overnight. — Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 1st November 2023 Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye Flooding in Newry City Co Down. Michael Nugent ice cream shop Newry. The clean up operation has started in Newry, the owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas have receded overnight. :The clean up operation has started in Newry. The owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas receded overnight.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has outlined the first steps in distributing the funding package aimed at flood affected businesses and aiding with clean-up costs.

In a visit to Newry this week Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said up to £15m of support will be made available in Northern Ireland.

The first step for the Council will be to administer and deliver the £7,500 being made available to individual businesses impacted in the district. It is estimated that the Council will start to deliver cheques to flooded businesses week commencing Monday, November 13.

Part of the £15m package is to support the wider economic recovery. To inform this, the Council will be contacting each of the impacted businesses in the coming days to establish more detail on the scale and scope of the damage and determine the most appropriate financial package for business.

The Northern Ireland Civil Service has also announced further details of the financial support, which includes rates relief for flooded businesses.

The rates relief measure will include 100% relief for non-domestic rates on flooded properties for the period between November 1 and March 31, 2024. In addition, any business that relocates to temporary premises while their flooded property is being repaired will be eligible for 100% rates relief on the new premises for three months.

Further details are available at: https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/news/information-support-measures-businesses-impacted-by-floods

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said, “The Council will work quickly and closely with the relevant Government departments to deliver the financial package to local businesses as well as continuing to seek additional support. We will keep you updated on progress on our social media channels and website.”