Capital funding for flood-hit schools

ENGLAND – Schools minister Jim Knight has announced nearly £28m (NZ$80) new capital funding for Hull, East Riding, Worcestershire and Merton – to rebuild new primary schools and prevent future damage after last year’s unprecedented flooding.

This funding, following the worst floods in a generation, is on top of £133m (NZ$381) government has already made available to flood-hit communities, including funding for schools, transport and businesses – and a further £2.15bn (NZ$6.16 billion) being invested over three years in flood defences and coastal erosion risk management in England.

All 857 flood damaged schools in England opened within days of the school year starting last September – with only a handful in temporary premises – after ministers announced immediate recovery grants for 47 affected local authorities.

But ministers also said they would step in with additional funding towards long-term capital building projects, which local authorities could not reasonably be expected to cover.

Mr Knight said: “We promised to give long-term support to areas badly affected by last year’s unprecedented floods and carefully considered how each bid from these four areas fitted into their ongoing capital investment plans. I am delighted to announce additional funding for all of them.”