Shock at ‘horrendous’ floods

RESIDENTS and businesses owners have spoken of their shock at the ‘horrendous’ floods that swept parts of the borough.

And some traders were asking ‘what have we done to deserve this’ after their first day back after weeks in lockdown were disrupted.

Almost a month’s worth of rain fell in Rochdale in just a few hours on Monday afternoon, leaving parts of the town flooded.

In Milnrow cars were pictured underwater as Kiln Lane flooded and slip roads to the M62 were also closed due to flooding.

Torrential rain and thunder on Monday saw customers at Rochdale Asda evacuated after the ceiling caved in from rain.

Businesses that were reopening for the first time after months in lockdown were also badly affected.

Business owner Christine Carrington of Buddies Florist, on Dale Street, Milnrow, said the

●●Buddies Florist padded with sandbags. The owner fears the shop floor may have to be replaced after it was submerged by water timing of the disastrous scenes could not have been worse.

She said: “It’s been horrendous - it was like we literally had a river running through the shop. I got up to go and sweep the floor but when I saw how much water was coming through the door I was just overwhelmed by it. It was like an act of God!”

Christine added: “You wait for months to be able to open your doors and serve your customers again, then something like this happens and you just think, ‘God, what did we do wrong?’”

Flood water has caused damage to the ceiling of the shop’s cellar and wooden floor - but Christine is still hoping to avoid an insurance claim, and she and co-owner Dee Jackson have set up dehumidifiers in the shop to expel any remaining dampness.

Christine expressed her frustration at local agencies who she felt had been ‘no good’ in taking action to avoid more flooding in Milnrow.

She said: “This is the second time we have had water in the shop in two years and we’ve reported it countless times.

“We have a dip in the pavement just outside and we do our best to keep the drain there clear of leaves, but we can’t stop everything getting in.

“There is obviously a drainage problem but nothing has been done about it.”

Mark Widdup, director of neighbourhoods at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We’re sorry to hear about the flooding in Milnrow, following the extreme weather we’ve been experiencing over the previous few days.

“We’re working with partners to support residents and businesses in this area, with a range of measures, including keeping the rivers clear and regularly cleaning and maintaining our gullies to improve drainage on the highways network. We will continue to work together to investigate opportunities to further reduce the flood risk in this area.

“We also have a strategy in place to address flooding across the wider borough, which sees us work with key partners like the Environment Agency on major projects, including a new £46m flood defence scheme.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We have been working in partnership with Rochdale Brough Council to look at the issue of flooding in Rochdale as a whole.

“This includes the design of a £46 million fluvial flood defence scheme in Rochdale and Littleborough.

“Once completed, the scheme will become one of the largest and most complex inland flood risk management schemes in the north of England, improving flood protection for 1,000 residential properties and 200 local businesses as well as major infrastructure such as the tram network, the bus interchange, schools and colleges, a grid substation and the waste water treatment works.

“Environment Agency teams have also been out on the ground clearing debris screen to ensure rivers remain clear. They will continue to take evasive action to reduce the impact of potential flooding in light of further wet weather predicted in the coming days.”

Also affected by the heavy rainfall was St Thomas’ CofE Primary School, where a video posted on social media showed water running in from a closed but nonwaterproof door.

Headteacher Rebecca Williams said it was ‘the last thing we would want’ after the school welcomed back more of its pupils on Monday.

Most pupils had gone home at the time the incident occurred in the afternoon, and all children still on the school premises

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