The owners of a caravan park which was at the heart of last summer’s wildfire on the North York Moors have claimed a funding boost from us is vital to helping to support their long-standing tourism business.
We have stepped in to provide financial support for businesses that had to be evacuated during the blaze on Fylingdales Moor.
Grants of up to £2,500 are being made available to businesses that qualify, with the prospect of an additional hardship support payment of up to £12,000.
Among the businesses that have benefited from the financial support is the Grouse Hill Caravan Park, which is situated between Whitby and Scarborough in the North York Moor National Park.
The 15-acre caravan park, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year, is owned by Andrew and Caroline Butterfield.
The couple, who have two children, William, aged 18, and 16-year-old Amelia, were forced to evacuate on August 26 last year as flames swept perilously close to the caravan park.
Andrew said: “The funding that the council has provided is extremely welcome, and it is giving us with much-needed financial support as the effects of the wildfire are still very much evident a year on.
“Everyone who was affected by the fire has in the back of their minds that this could happen again, especially when we experience the extremely warm weather conditions we have seen this summer.”
Andrew added: “The fire had such a devastating environmental impact on the moors, but it is also the psychological effects it’s had on the communities here. The council has shown it is committed to helping the communities that were affected, and that makes a big difference knowing the support is there.”
We have stepped in to provide the financial support after the Government confirmed that businesses affected by the wildfire would not qualify for compensation.
We are working with the Two Ridings Community Foundation to provide a one-off and targeted offer to local businesses directly affected by the wildfire.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “We are committed to supporting our communities, but I cannot stress enough that this funding has been made available due to unprecedented circumstances surrounding the Fylingdales Moor blaze.
“As a council, we will not be able to repeatedly step in to provide financial support in the future at a time when our budgets are under intense pressure and demand for our services is increasing.
“The Government needs to look very closely at how it can support communities and businesses affected by natural disasters across the country.
“There is a compelling argument that national policies do need to be reviewed as the sad but undeniable truth is that the Fylingdales Moor fire will prove not to be a one-off.”
We have lobbied the Government to try to secure compensation for businesses affected by the wildfire to mirror the support that is available following flooding events.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is providing £3.2 million to the North York Moors National Park Authority to help to restore the moorlands which were the scene of the wildfire last summer.
However, Ministers have confirmed that there will not be any financial support available to businesses that were affected.
Cllr Les said: “We are disappointed that the Government hasn’t extended financial support to businesses after we had asked for compensation from Westminster to support those people and enterprises affected.
“We are continuing to offer to work with the Government to draw on our own experiences in North Yorkshire to help to develop a plan for dealing with the aftermath of disasters such as the Fylingdales Moor fire.
“I would ask that Ministers carefully consider the way forward, and make sure that there is a clear and defined path to help to support any communities or businesses that will be so gravely affected by natural disasters in the future.”
The cause of the wildfire is believed to be cooking using a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner.
The tinder-dry conditions that were evident on the North York Moors last summer contributed to the scale and impact of the fire. At its height, the blaze covered 20 square kilometres, 10 times the size of the Great Fire of London.
A major new campaign which is aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires in North Yorkshire was launched in June.
The ‘Don't Spark Disaster’ campaign is being delivered by the North York Moors National Park Authority in partnership with ourselves, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Forestry England and North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.
We funded the campaign, which is also being supported by our destination marketing and management service, Visit North Yorkshire.