The clean up bill following recent floods could top £3million, says Cornwall Council.

Assessments of Cornwall’s highway network, public spaces and public rights of way highlighted damage to roads, bridges and footpaths. Since then, the council and its contractor Cormac, have been carrying out emergency works and have programmed in other remedial works for the coming months.

In the days following the flooding, staff from Cornwall Council’s localism, highways, environment and public health and protection teams, the Environment Agency, police, Cornwall Development Company and the voluntary sector, gave advice to residents and business owners at a number of drop in surgeries for residents.

Around 100 people attended the sessions at Cawsand, Helston, Ladock, Mevagissey, Millbrook, Perranporth and Polperro to talk about a range of issues.

Representatives from the multi agency group, as well as the Red Cross and WRVS, also visited individual properties in the other locations which were also affected by flooding including: St Germans, St Just, Portreath, St Mawes, Polruan, Blisland, Hessenford, Moorswater, Bugle, Polmassick, East Portholland, Ruan Lanihorne, Tregony, Angarrack and St Just.

Nearly 250 properties throughout Cornwall were flooded following the heavy rain and while the 2010 floods were concentrated in a few locations, November’s flooding affected areas across Cornwall which posed challenges to all involved in both the response and recovery staqes.

Rob Andrew, chair of the multi agency flood recovery group, said: “We learned valuable lessons after the 2010 floods and as a result all agencies worked well to identify those affected and, where appropriate, offer help and support.

“Now our focus turns to building future resilience and we are working with local town and parish councils and the Environment Agency to help develop and update community flood plans in affected areas including Newlyn, Ladock and Millbrook.”

The Council will be applying for financial assistance from the Government’s Bellwin scheme to help recoup some of the revenue costs incurred following the floods.

“Cornwall Council have been in discussions with senior officials at DCLG since the start of the floods to discuss what, if any, financial assistance the Government can provide to us through the Bellwin scheme or via other mechanisms,” said councillor Jim Currie, leader of Cornwall Council.

“We are pleased to hear that DEFRA have launched the £5m fund for communities most affected by the floods and we will be working with local communities to apply to this fund. Hopefully we can build on the success of similar funding for flood protection from the Environment Agency in 2010 which saw £586,000 put into Individual Property Protection schemes.”