A year on from England's disastrous flooding, local authorities are only now getting a clear idea of how much the disaster has cost them. Councils played a central role in the emergency last summer, helping 49,000 people who were left homeless and 7,000 businesses without premises, following the inundation. Authorities revealed they were still totting up how much the ongoing repairs were likely to cost. Gloucestershire CC has revealed how much the road damage in the county will cost. A spokesman for the county said: ‘It is estimated road damage alone amounted to £25m, for which we have received £10m from the Government. We sought and gained public approval for a flood levy on the council tax and with this money, we are taking practical steps to increase maintenance and improve the drainage network.' An LGA spokesman said: ‘The Government responded quickly and gave local authorities sufficient money to deal with the issue. But it must keep in mind, costs are ongoing.'
