West Lancashire's Conservative councillors have pledged financial assistance to help flood-hit residents. The Group introduced a recommendation at Full Council meeting which could ultimately see local homes fitted with flood resilience measures. In order for eligible residents to access Environment Agency funding for this, they normally have to be members of a local community flooding group and make the bid via a local authority. Conservative borough councillors have now given a commitment to help fund the creation of such groups, where necessary, by commissioning the services of an appropriate body or bodies as facilitators. Once in place, groups will be able to apply to the fund holders, the Environment Agency, via Lancashire County Council, who are the designated Lead Local Flood Authority. The proposal came as councillors debated an Officer Report into the September floods which hit a number of local areas, most notably in Ormskirk. Cllr Martin Forshaw, Conservative Group spokesman for flooding, said: "The Officer Report clearly sets out the duties of a number of agencies in the event of local flooding. The Borough Council does not have any responsibilities with respect to flooding/flood prevention, except as riparian owner of land within the Council’s ownership. "However, our proposal to allocate appropriate funding demonstrates the Conservative Borough Council wants to ensure eligible local residents have the chance to bid for the Environment Agency funding." Knowsley Ward Cllr Val Hopley, who was on the scene in Dyers Lane, Ormskirk, when it was badly flooded back in September, welcomed the decision of Full Council. She said: "I am pleased the Borough Council is playing its part to help residents access funding which could keep their homes more secure from flooding. "I have personally visited families whose homes were hit by flooding, and it is devastating. All partners and residents need to work together and play their part to help keep communities safe."