‘We’ve flooded five times since 2015... this is the worst one’
ASMALL business owner has told of his devastation after his shop flooded on the day it fully reopened after lockdown.
Carpet Creations in Milnrow, Rochdale, was left underwater during a flash flood on Monday afternoon.
Owner Philip Holt says it’s the fifth time in five years the business has flooded.
During Monday’s thunderstorms the stockroom flooded in just 20 minutes, leaving staff with barely enough time to rescue anything.
About £10,000 of flooring, carpet and underlay was lost.
And because the firm can’t get flood insurance due to the number of times it’s been affected previously that comes straight out of Philip’s pocket.
He said: “Since Boxing Day 2015 we’ve been flooded five times. [This] was probably the worst one. It happened within 15 to 20 minutes, it was quite severe.
“We’ve been running on a skeleton staff throughout coronavirus, and today was our first proper day of trading.
“I’ve been in the carpet business since I left school. I’ve had a business in Milnrow for 24 years, but it’s times like these that make you think if it’s worth carrying on.
“But we’ve just got to dust ourselves down and carry on.”
A number of other businesses at the bottom end of Dale Street close to the River Beal also flooded on Monday, including the Tim Bobbin pub across the road and Village Treasures charity shop.
Mr Holt added: “We are at the low point of the village. I’ve been told the drainage is not sufficient to cope with the deluges we get.
“Whether it’s building on the flood plains or something else, but the water just cascades down off the hillsides, it can’t drain away naturally and it just runs down through the village until we get it.
“The drains just cannot get the water away quick enough.
“But it’s a bit of a hot potato and everybody wants to pass it on to somebody else.
“I’ve been chasing my tail with this for five years. I know there is no money about, but by the other token I pay £13-14,000 a year in business rates and it makes me think what do I get for it?”
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We are aware of the issues experienced by Mr Holt and have put in place several pieces of flood mitigation to protect his premises from sewer flooding.
“However, our investigations have indicated that the assistance we have provided has only addressed part of the problem as other factors, outside of our control, also appear to be causing flooding.”
Rochdale council have also been contacted for a comment.