NORTHWICH MP Mike Amesbury has written to the Environment Secretary asking him to think again over his refusal to support flood victims.

Storm Christoph battered the town in January damaging 244 homes and 92 businesses in the second flood to hit the area in 14 months.

Last month 250 businesses and 150 homes were swamped in the second flood to hit the area in as little as 14 months, causing considerable damage.

Altogether, 128 had to be evacuated from their homes in dingies Weaver Court retirement village and Acton Bridge and Weaverham as properies were left waterlogged and without power.

The Weaver Vale MP is angry that Environment Secretary George Eustice MP is still refusing to fund emergency grants despite intense lobbying from community leaders and having seen the level of devastation for himself when he visited the town.

Mr Amesbury said: “I am angry this uncaring Government has decided not to release funds through its Flood Recovery Framework despite intense lobbying from local politicians including myself.

READ > Enthusiasts run, walk and cycle to help businesses hit by Northwich flood

"He could choose to kick in an element of funding. It works out at about £5,000 per property or business. Doncaster in the South Yorkshire area suffered flooding in 2019. I think there were about 25 properties affected and funding was made available.

“Here we have an even more serious situation yet we’ve had a note back from the department saying they are still not going to activate the Flood Recovery Framework. Disappointing is quite a diplomatic response, I’m actually somewhat perplexed and angry.

“That’s why I have written again asking the Environment Secretary to change his mind.”

Northwich's community spirit shone through as volunteers, borough and town councillors rallied round to help flood victims as homes and businesses were left devastated.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has already spend £500,000 on the response and recovery stage and the Local Enterprise Partnership and CWAC have set up a special contingency fund to help businesses affected.

The council has also committed an extra £250,000 from its existing budget to help the borough recover from the flooding.

Northwich Flood Relief Fund has raised almost £9,000 and various other crowd-funding initiatives have brought in much needed cash.

But many flood victims are still struggling to find money to repair the damage and recover.

Investigations are ongoing into the latest flood when river defences held but the surface water drainage system became overwhelmed.

The authorities claim high river levels meant water from the drains had nowhere to go for the second time in two years.

Mr Amesbury added: “The council along with a range of partners have tried their best with limited resources to recover from these devastating floods.

What people want to see – residents and businesses alike – is action. If it requires investment in the drainage system then Government must be prepared to’ invest to save’, given extreme climate events are unfortunately here to stay.

“I don’t want to be in the same position, one year from now, where I’m standing in the same spot with a bunch of councillors, the Environment Agency and the emergency services, just outside Waitrose, looking at a lake, as I have done twice in the last 14 months.”