Flood risk survey to be conducted at industrial area
AN industrial estate in Widnes gutted by fire in a suspected arson attack will be assessed for potential risk of flooding ahead of any future developments taking place.
A swathe of the Golden Triangle in Halebank went up in flames at the end of June as four industrial buildings were engulfed by the inferno.
At its height, 16 appliances were sent by Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service to the scene, with firefighters at the site for several days to ensure the blaze was fully extinguished and demolition work could commence.
Following the fire, Cllr Eddie Dourley, Labour, of the Ditton ward, has called for the whole industrial estate on Harrison Street to be turned into housing, as well as a relief road for Halebank to be constructed.
Elsewhere there was a suggestion online that the area experiences flooding when there is a high tide at nearby waterways, the closest of which is Ditton Brook.
But since beginning records in 2011, a statement from Halton Borough Council said there has only been one flooding incident at the Golden Triangle, which was down to surface water and not from a river.
The local authority has also said it is ‘not aware of many complaints’ about flood problems or concerns in Halebank, or issues regarding difficulty obtaining insurance due to the risk of flooding.
The statement said: “The council strives to use brownfield sites to meet the borough’s development needs.
“This approach includes bringing forward development on under-utilised employment areas, such as the Golden Triangle.
“As part of the assessment of brownfield sites, expert feasibility work is undertaken to understand flood risks and, if present, to ascertain if those risks could be safely mitigated.
“As the Golden Triangle is adjacent to Ditton Brook, a careful assessment will be made of any potential flood risk to any development proposed.
“We have only been made aware of one flood incident at Golden Triangle since starting its records in 2011, which was due to surface water and not river flooding.
“We are not aware of many complaints about flood problems/concerns in ● Halebank.
“Nor are we aware of any problems with regard to people obtaining insurance due to flood risk in Halebank.”
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire remain released under investigation by Cheshire police.
Officers also took to social media to warn people to stay away from the site after being made aware there had been individuals venturing on to it while it is in a partly demolished state.