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Free café and council cash help York get back on its feet after floods

@ in News

The view down Fossgate as residents and business owner throw out everything ruined in the floods

This is Fossgate nine days after the floods struck York.

Skips are piled high with carpets, furniture, paintings and keepsakes – all ruined as homes and businesses were inundated by river water.

The clean-up gathered pace on Monday (January 4) as the city got back to work after one of the most memorable Christmas breaks in its long history.

City of York Council has offered more help to those affected.

Find out more on the council’s website

Residents whose homes have been internally flooded will receive a one-off payment of £500 from the council later this week to help support the clean-up process.

Affected householders who pay their council tax by direct debit will receive the funding directly in their bank account.

Those paying by other methods will need to collect their payment by bringing photographic ID like a passport or driving licence, plus a proof of address (eg a utility bill) to the council’s West Offices HQ on Station Rise.

Meanwhile, Huntington Road residents who are still in the middle of their own clear-up operation, were helped along with free hot food and drinks.

Set up by Michaela Robinson, and run with help from Jade Robinson and Helen Cullen, the roadside snack van served local people with tea, coffee and bacon sandwiches.

And the government has agreed to match-fund any York flood-related donations made to registered charities, such as the York Flood Appeal. As of Monday evening this stood at £238K, bolstered by £100,000 donated by Nestlé.

Open for business

A close-up view of some of the rubbish on Fossgate
A close-up view of some of the rubbish on Fossgate

As the clean-up gathered pace the city’s tourism team sent out a clear message: #Yorkopen4business.

When the floods were at their height, the authorities appealed for visitors to stay away. But now the city is more than ready to welcome everyone back.

Make It York are letting the world know that the vast majority of attractions, shops, bars and restaurants in York are open.

Only a few remain closed by the flooding, among them Jorvik Viking Centre, York Dungeon and the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

Kate McMullen of Make It York said:

We would like to reassure all those planning to visit York in the coming days and it’s crucial we get the message out far and wide that there’s absolutely no reason to cancel your trip.

We fully empathise with anyone directly affected and what we must do now to support businesses is ensure the longer term impact is minimised.

We are working round the clock to ensure our #Yorkopen4business message reaches far and wide.