News release 3 October 2008

A new scheme to help people to protect their homes against flooding is being piloted in South Derbyshire.

Staff at South Derbyshire District Council are contacting South Derbyshire residents whose homes have suffered from flooding to invite them to take part in a scheme to have special door barriers against water fitted to their homes.

Says Cllr Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, "It's the South Derbyshire way to work with local people to help them to help themselves. The Council has allocated £10,000 to help contribute to special flood shields to protect people's homes. Working with the specialist supplier "UK Flood Barriers" South Derbyshire residents can buy flood shields for their front and back doors for £50.00 for each door directly from South Derbyshire District Council. The usual price for each door guard is £249.00. Those people on benefit, or who are registered disabled, will have the shields provided at no charge.

"Council staff are on call 24/7 to help local people. Staff were out a few weeks ago delivering filled sandbags to homes in Hilton, Repton, Etwall, Hartshorne, Barrow on Trent and Swarkestone. If elderly or infirm people cannot place the sandbags themselves, we will do it for them. Sandbags can do an effective job but these flood shields are even better as they can be fitted in a few minutes by the resident to help seal up doors and holes in air bricks at flood level."

If your home has suffered from flooding, please contact Tim Summers on 01283 595950 or visit the Council's website south-derbys.gov.uk to find out more about the scheme.