Caravan park welcomes funding after moorland fire

A North Yorkshire caravan park impacted by last year's moorland wildfire has been given financial support.

The Grouse Hill Caravan Park, between Whitby and Scarborough in the North York Moors National Park, said the funding from North Yorkshire Council had been "extremely welcome".

The main blaze, which burned for more than 40 days, started at Langdale Moor on 11 August and at its height covered nearly 10 sq miles (25 sq km).

Co-owner of the caravan park, Andrew Butterfield, said his family had been forced to evacuate on 26 August as flames swept perilously close to the site but nobody was injured.

"The funding that the council has provided is extremely welcome, and it is giving us much-needed financial support as the effects of the wildfire are still very much evident a year on," he explained.

"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."

Caroline Butterfield 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 exact figure awarded to the Butterfields was not confirmed, but according to Local Democracy Reporting Service grants of up to £2,500 were being made available to businesses that qualify for help, with the prospect of an additional hardship support payment of up to £12,000.

It follows a recent announcement from the government stating it would not provide compensation for local businesses, farmers and landowners impacted by the wildfire, despite calls for support from Labour and Conservative MPs.

North Yorkshire Council's leader, 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."

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