Still they repair the damage, a year after the floods

We’ve had to join the list of people wanting home improvements, says residents whose lives were torn apart

RESIDENTS LEFT homeless by some of the most devastating flash floods to hit northern England have spoken of their battle to recover – a year after the deluge struck.

Twelve months ago today, residents stood among scenes of destruction after areas of the northern Yorkshire Dales had 2,156 million litres – enough to fill more than 800 Olympic swimming pools – fall in five hours.

The rainfall the previous day – July 30 – affected more than 250 homes, 35 farms and at least 40 other businesses in Wensleydale, Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

Some of the most severe flooding was at Grinton in Swaledale, where the beck became so powerful it destroyed a bridge, ripped out a 200-yearold barn and flattened countless walls.

The raging waters undercut the foundations of Chris Atkin’s home by 15ft, leaving part of it hanging precariously. His garden was swept away, as was his neighbour’s driveway.

Mr Atkin said it had taken a year to get planning permission for repairs, adding: “The system doesn’t have any mechanism to say this is a bit more important, this wasn’t of their making. So we join the ranks of people wanting a house extension.”

Other victims in the village include artist Michael Bilton and his partner Cyndi, who retired

to Swaledale 27 years ago and are hoping work to repair their 18th century home will be completed by November.

The couple had been in Leyburn and Richmond when the floods swept away all their possessions, so it was a huge relief to discover their beloved greyhound, Luca, had escaped.

Mr Bilton said: “It was so shocking at the time it makes your senses go numb. As the day falls away for other days to come along, you get a different comprehension of the situation. You get used to seeing debris. I was just happy we were able to retreat to somewhere else to live.”

Geraldine Coates, who chairs Grinton Parish Council, said the flooding had exposed many areas of unregistered land, meaning insurers of nearby properties were having to take responsibility for restoring other structures simply to reach those for which they were responsible.

Stuart Price, of the Dales Bike Centre in nearby Fremington, said his business had been left encased in polluted mud, which took two months to put right.

Artist Michael Bilton, whose home in Grinton was flooded.

The consequences would have been unthinkable if it had happened just two days later, when up to 6,000 people were due to be camping there for the Ard Rock mountain bike festival.

He said: “There is an issue with climate change and we all have to be ready for it but that particular day was a freak event.”

A range of flood defences, such as self-closing air bricks and flood-proof doors similar to those used in submarines, proved inadequate to protect the home of Swaledale with Arkengarthdale vicar Caroline Hewlett. Like others, her anxieties are rekindled every time a storms comes.

She said: “We had a day a few weeks ago when there was thunder and similar weather to the day of the flood and there was a very high level of anxiety.

“The fact nobody was injured or killed was amazing, considering the power of the floods and rocks it moved.”

It was so shocking at the time it makes your senses go numb.