Crowning support for Winchester City dental practice
The flooding events in the winter of 2013-14 caused considerable damage across the Winchester District with many local businesses being affected.
City Bridge Dental Care Ltd suffered substantial damage as the flood water came up through the floor of its premises on Bridge Street. Funding of over £8,700 from Winchester City Council’s Business Support Grant helped the company to rebuild and refit this area, providing continued employment for 17 members of staff.
Mark Aston, partner at City Bridge Dental Care said:
The flood wiped out our entire basement, which contained two hi-tech surgery rooms the patient care suite and a decontamination room. We had to undertake extensive restoration, fitting pumps under the new floor to keep the river out, reconfiguring the space as offices and relocating the surgeries into another area of the building.
The Business Support Grant we received from Winchester City Council was a great help funding site inspections, certification of repairs and a stand for our microscope, although I am glad to say we were able to save the microscope itself.
The Council has been extremely supportive throughout, not just with this grant, but also in terms of providing excellent advice and now recommending flood improvement measures to prevent future disruption to businesses and homes in Winchester.
Cllr James Byrnes, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy, said:
When extreme conditions hit the Winchester city and district areas, the Council will endeavour to help local businesses who are affected, not only as the water is lapping around their feet but also once there has been time to review and assess preventative measures that can be carried out.
The Council is still accepting applications for business support grants so if you were affected please submit your applications as soon as possible as this scheme will close on 31 March 2016.
Details of the scheme and application forms can be found on the web page www.winchester.gov.uk/environment/flooding/flood-advice-businesses.
Winchester City Council has also invested in a £25,000 temporary flood barrier which will be stored at the Council’s Bar End depot and can be deployed where and when it is needed.