MORE than half a million pounds has been pledged to help victims of the Canvey floods – and to prevent it happening again.

Essex County Council has announced it will spend £470,000 to clean the gullies more regularly so flood water can drain away.

It has also put forward £120,000 of council tax-related support to help those struggling with the aftermath of the devastating July floods which wreaked havoc across the island.

Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for highways and transportation, said: “It is important for the public to realise what Essex County Council is and is not responsible for on Canvey Island.

“We are determined to make sure our responsibilities are met – and that is why we are putting an additional £470,000 into making sure all our gullies are cleaned at least twice a year on Canvey.

“But we also call on our partners – the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, the Highways Agency and private landlords – to keep their drains, ditches and other assets in good order to ensure that flooding can be prevented where possible.”

County councillor Ray Howard, deputy councillor responsible for highways and transportation, said: “This should hugely improve our highway drainage system. No drains and gullies could have coped with the kind of rain we had in July.

“This commitment from Essex County Council helps to make sure our current drainage system is the best it can be and I hope other partner agencies make similar commitments to keep it in top condition.”

If the project is a success it could be rolled out to other areas.

Earlier in the year, Essex County Council set aside £75,000 for Canvey flooding hotspots and Essex Highways has said it will spend in the region of £1.4million on the island, which will include flood alleviation.

Dave Fisher, 49, was flooded out of his home in San Remo Road during the floods and believes he and his family will remain in temporary accomodation until after Christmas.

He said: “I think it is good news if they actually do it.

“It is not before time and the bottom line is they need to do it and maintain it, it is all well and good spending all that money, but it needs to be done periodically, twice per year seems to be what people are saying.”

He believes it is a step in the right direction, but the whole of the island’s drainage system needs to be looked at to ensure they are all clear.