Flood recovery could takes years (From The Northern Echo)

Flood recovery could takes years

12:27pm Monday 23rd November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

IT could take years for Cumbria to recover from the damage caused by severe flooding, a police chief warned today.

Craig Mackey, Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary, said the torrential rain had severely damaged infrastructures across the region which may take years to repair.

He said: "What will distinguish this from many other floodings across the country is the length of time the recovery phase will take.

"We will be working with our communities for weeks, months, and in some cases years to come.

"It is clear that this was an unprecedented event in terms of the flooding, the level of flooding.

"The particular issue which made this so different is the damage to infrastructures.

"It is highly unusual to see that level of damage to infrastructures and clearly means that this next phase that we are moving into as a county is going to take a considerable amount of time."

Structural engineers and military experts were carrying out an urgent safety review of Cumbria's 1,800 bridges as fears grew that the Calva Bridge in Workington was on the brink of being swept away.

The town was cut off, with Friday's collapse of Northside Bridge and the closure of Calva Bridge forcing residents to make lengthy detours.

Mr Mackey said: "It's primarily the bridges. We have seen communities that relied on bridges to join them together for everything from the simple things like getting a newspaper to the school run or a visit to the doctors.

"Those bridges have now gone and that is going to present some real challenges for us as a county.

"There is one bridge open across the Derwent at the moment but that involves a substantial detour for people getting from the north of the river to the south.

"Clearly the work over the days and weeks ahead is around the solution to this."

Manwhile, a North-East council is urging residents to send money to help people affected by the Cumbria floods.

The Mayor of Shildon, County Durham, Councillor Gareth Howe, launched an appeal after watching television pictures of the devastation caused on England's wettest ever day.

He said: "The effects of the floods will be felt for years.

"People in Cumbria need our help to get back on their feet.

"Christmas is just around the corner and there are families who have lost everything.

"There will be parents who cannot work because of the flooding and will have nothing for Christmas.

"We had terrible flooding near here in South Church some years ago and some families were out of their homes for many months so people in this area know what it is like.

"I hope they will give money to help the people of Cumbria because they need our support now."

Donations can be left at Shildon Town Council offices in Civic Hall Square. Cheques should be made out to Shildon Town Council, with Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund written on the back.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)