Flood-hit families can claim up to £1,500 as part of a new recovery package unveiled by council bosses.
The cash aid is being offered to households and community groups across Perthshire to help them get back on their feet after catastrophic flooding devastated the region.
It is being made available to residents whose homes were hit during torrential downpours at the start of the year, but also to those who suffered during Storm Desmond in early December and on July 17, when the region was battered by a month’s worth of rain in just six hours, leaving parts of Alyth under water.
The announcement came as Alyth residents gathered to set the ball rolling on an action plan to rebuild the town.
People took part in a series of workshops yesterday to discuss planned improvements to the town centre, including new bridges to replace the ones destroyed by last summer’s floods.
It emerged yesterday that Perth and Kinross Council has spent more than £800,000 on repairs and improvements so far.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gp03N83Pl08%3Frel%3D0
Flood aid grants for individual households and businesses will be discussed by councillors next week.
A local authority spokeswoman said that a flat rate grant of £1,500 per property could be used for households, businesses, community groups, such as sports clubs, and charities.
She said the money will reimburse residents for not receiving the full benefits of services they pay for through council tax because they were forced out of their flood-damaged homes.
It will also help people protect their properties against future flooding by installing barriers. The money can also go to carrying out repairs such as replacing doors and windows or moving plug sockets to a safer level.
Council leader Ian Miller said: “The announcement of this Scottish Government funding will no doubt come as a great relief for those whose homes or businesses have been badly affected by the inclement weather.
“While it is difficult to accurately predict the number affected by the flooding across all four flooding locations, we believe it to be in the region of 200 properties. I would encourage anyone who thinks they are eligible to contact the council and register.”
A separate additional fund with a flat rate grant of £3,000 has been set up for larger businesses.
In last month’s budget, Perthshire North MSP John Swinney announced the region would get about £1.65 million to alleviate the impact of recent flooding.
After grants have been issued to residents and groups, the remainder of the money will go towards repair infrastructure including new bridges at Alyth.