MORE THAN £75,000 has been given to Keighley companies and groups so far this year to fight the effects of flooding.

The cash was awarded by Bradford Council through two special business support funds set up following last Boxing Day’s heavy flooding across the district.

The aim of the cash was to enable businesses to quickly begin trading again following the devastation, and avoid similar damage in the future.

News of the grants was revealed at the recent meeting of the council’s Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members discussed the council’s Keighley-focused business support services, including the Department of Regeneration, the Economic Development Service, and the Invest in Bradford scheme.

The report stated that £36,405 was paid to Keighley businesses or organisations as part of the council’s £2.5 million flood relief clean-up grant.

In most cases companies were able to claim the full amount they were eligible for, £2,500.

Successful applicants included Bump & Babes, John W Laycock Ltd and Mother Hubbards in Riddlesden; Roland’s restaurant in Utley; Posh Nosh in Haworth; Leach & Thompson in Dalton Lane, Keighley; and Silsden Golf Driving Range.

In addition, businesses and premises in in Keighley and Ilkley won grants up to £5,000 – making a total of £40,361 – for flood resilience schemes.

The scrutiny committee stated: “Assistance provided under the flood grant scheme proved invaluable in allowing a large number of businesses to quickly clean up and start trading after the aftermath of the Boxing Des floods in 2015.

“The flood resilience grant has helped to mitigate the impact of flooding in the future.”

The committee also heard about a wide range of support services for local businesses that are overseen by the council.

As part of this, Airedale Enterprise Services have this year given more than 200 pieces of support to business start-ups in the Keighley area, including interview space, one-to-one interviews, loan advice and ‘virtual office’services.

The organisation have also helped 70 small or medium-sized businesses in the Keighley area with grant applications or training in areas such as digital skills or business development.

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