Get flood-hit residents back home, urges council

Most people evacuated from Meadow Mill on New Year's Day have not returned home

The owners and management of an apartment block that has been without power since the New Year's Day floods have been told to "get their act together" by a council.

Meadow Mill in Stockport remains without electricity, heating, and water, with residents "desperate" to return more than a week after they were evacuated.

Stockport Council leader Mark Hunter said the delay in restoring utilities was "unacceptable", adding owners Arwal Investments and management firm CERT needed to "get a move on".

He said he was pleased that the building insurers, AXA had "finally stepped up and done the right thing" in agreeing to provide "suitable accommodation" for residents for the next seven days.

Stockport Council's leader Mark Hunter said some residents were in "complete crisis"

Some residents said they had run out of money to pay for temporary accommodation after being advised by their landlords to claim it back later.

Hunter added: "This has been an incredibly difficult time for those affected and ensuring they have somewhere safe and warm to stay is welcome news ahead of residents returning to their homes safely as soon as possible."

He said the council would remain in close contact with AXA and other parties to ensure residents received the help they needed.

A CERT spokesman said staff had been working all week to restore the building "as soon as possible" and aimed to have the power back on in "communal landlord areas" by Monday.

The company said after power has been restored, "life safety systems" would be tested in the apartments to check there is no fire risk from electrics.

CERT previously said extensive work was needed to restore water and power after the floodwaters damaged the ground floor.

Arwal Investments has been contacted for comment after Stockport Council published its concerns in an open letter, urging a "swift" resolution.

There are more than 200 apartments at the converted cotton mill close to River Tame, some of which have been sold to leaseholders while others are rented out by a mix of landlords.

'Complete crisis'

Hunter said he feared the desperation of residents was growing, after some chose to return to live in the building in freezing temperatures despite the lack of "basic facilities".

The council had also raised concerns with the building's insurer AXA over claims it was refusing to deal with residents directly.

Prior to the announcement by AXA that they would provide accommodation for residents for seven days, Hunter had told BBC Radio Manchester that some residents had been referred to the company but said they had not received a response.

"It is now over a week since the flood and more delays and lack of certainty over temporary accommodation arrangements will be of cold comfort to the residents, many of whom are now in complete crisis," he said.

An AXA spokesperson said the firm "sympathised" with the residents adding it was "urgently" working to resolve the situation.

"This is a complex claim which involves detailed investigation with multiple parties including the property's freeholder, who is the policyholder of our commercial buildings insurance policy, and their broker," they said.