FURTHER cash has been made available to support people affected by the recent floods.

Gloucestershire County Council is allocating £50,000 into a flood relief grant to help people whose homes have been hit by flooding.

It is offering up to £1,000 per flooded property to help replace damaged furniture and essentials or to help with the most immediate needs.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood, said: “We’re doing as much as we can out on the ground to help people who are affected by the flooding but we know there are people whose homes or properties have been damaged.

“That’s why we are committing up to £50,000 to help people in the community respond to issues relating to flooding in their properties in their recent event.

“This is reinforcing our ongoing commitment to flood alleviation and supporting flood victims since 2007.”

To apply for the funding, visit gloucestershire.gov.uk/floodfund and register your details. The council will then be in contact to discuss the application.

Meanwhile, Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has called for an important debate to discuss Thames Water’s underinvestment in the Upper Thames region.

He said that following the most recent set of floods it has yet again become clear that there has been significant under investment in the upgrade of the entire sewerage system throughout the Cotswolds.

During Business Questions to the Leader of the House of Commons yesterday morning (Thursday), the Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, Mr Clifton-Brown called for a debate in Government time to address this issue as a matter of urgency.

Mr Clifton-Brown followed the exchange by meeting with Richard Aylard, External Affairs and Sustainability Director of Thames Water, along with other representatives, to discuss specific constituent cases and general flooding concerns in the Cotswolds.

“I have had a large number of constituents raising concerns about the activities of Thames Water recently," he said. " I can assure all my constituents that I have been taking these all of these concerns up directly with Thames Water and will continue to do so."

He added he will also be seeking to take part in the Estimates Day debate in the House of Commons on Monday, March 3 to discuss capital spending on flooding general in the Cotswolds.