Jackson demands extra Government support for victims.

Castle Morpeth Council Leader Peter Jackson has hit out at the Bellwin Formula, which only allows local authorities to claim back 85 percent of flood costs for the first eight weeks after the event.

And he said the Borough should be given extra support to match that given to flooded areas last year.

"We're now coming up to the point when the Bellwin funding will end and this will significantly hamper our ability to deliver on plans to ensure that the community gets back to normal as quickly as possible," he said.

"We already have to meet 15 percent of the costs of clearing up after the flood and just to give a flavour of that cost, we've hired about 300 skips over the past month to assist residents and businesses with the clear-up.

"We know that other flood affected areas have found the level and timescale of the current scheme inadequate. Doncaster, Worcestershire, Gloucester, Hull and others have already been awarded Bellwin Plus — 100 percent of the flood costs and longer timescales — and we'd expect fair and equitable treatment for Morpeth."

Coun Jackson raised the issue with Floods Minister John Healey when he visited the Borough last month and he has also requested additional support in a formal letter.

"Whilst on the surface the area looks largely recovered, you only have to travel a few streets off the high street, behind any front door, to see total devastation beyond — floors gone, plaster hacked off the walls to head-height, industrial dryers, people who've lost everything.

"This will be the case for months to come and the Council will be counting the cost along with its residents," he said.

"I'm calling on the Minister to make good his personal promise to me when he visited the area that central government would provide extended financial support to Castle Morpeth in its efforts to get the community back to normal after such severe flooding."

Within a day of the flood, the Council had set up a flood information point, which is still in operation.

It has encouraged all affected residents to register their details, put plans in place for temporary accommodation for victims and appointed Community Estate Officers to identify local issues and act as a point of contact for householders.

"The area has recovered incredibly well from the flooding, due in large part to the outstanding efforts of the Council, its partners and volunteers," said Coun Jackson.

An independent review of the disaster is now under way.

In a Parliamentary debate this week, Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said an application for additional Government support for the flood efforts would be considered, but refused to commit to providing extra funding.