Finally, all the money raised for the community in the aftermath of the Boxing Day flood is now under one umbrella – but there is a problem in how to spend it.
The amount from two benefit events and donations totals £9,706.73 broken down as follows...
Salford Online Go Fund Me donations of £2,634.56 and the St Augustine's collection of £200 totalled £2,834.56, which was match funded by the Government (£2,872.17), giving a sum of £2,834.56. To this is added £1,100 from the St Boniface benefit plus £2,900 given to Salford City Council. This all adds up to £9,706.73
Now the Lower Broughton communities that were victims of the flood, from Riverside, Spike Island, Heath Avenue, The Showman's Guild, the Gordon Street area and the elderly population of Alexandra Gardens, are being given the chance to suggest ideas on how the money should be spent.
The only criterion is that the funds should be used for the benefit of the whole communities affected.
"It's an opportunity for people to come together to produce something that's worthwhile, to demonstrate to the Council that it's not just them who can have good ideas or know what's best" says Mike Thorpe from the Broughton Trust which is helping to administrate the process.
Ideas put forward so far are a siren, an electronic notice board linked to the Environment Agency for flood warnings and some benches... "People can have a rest and dry their feet, and they would be waterproof" Mike laughs ... "But the community can come up with any ideas; it can be a big project like a big electronic display board or some small benches with plaques, we're open to anything."
The idea of giving everyone around £13.50 is not on the cards as it would not be practical and there would be a cost to administrate it, so ideas for community projects are being considered instead.
Posters are being put up throughout the affected areas calling for submissions of ideas by noon on Friday 21st October.
These should be sent to Elaine Jones at The Broughton Trust, Humphrey Booth Centre, Heath Avenue or emailed to office@thebroughtontrust.org.uk
Only ideas from the affected communities will be accepted.
Throughout the process there will be a panel that will be meeting, not to decide what will happen to the funds but to ensure `probity, accountability and transparency', and to ensure that the final decisions belong to the affected community. The Panel will be made up of Tom Rogers (Editor of Salford Online), John Merry (Deputy City Mayor, Salford City Council), Kirsten Blackwood (Deputy CEO Salford CVS), Stephen Kingston (Editor of the Salford Star) and a representative of St Boniface's Social Club.
For a full update on the flood reports, community meetings etc see previous Salford Star articles...
Community Flood Meeting Fails to Impress Residents - click here
Salford Council Damning Boxing Day Flood Report - click here
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