'Abnormal becoming normal' as flood clean-up begins

Ian Bebbington said it was becoming normal for the site to flood multiple times a year

Abnormal flooding is now becoming normal, according to the boss of a Shropshire showground.

West Mid Showground on Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury was submerged in the wake of Storm Henk.

CEO Ian Bebbington said he expected the clean-up of the site to take more than a month.

While no stranger to flooding, he said, it is now becoming a more regular occurrence.

Drone footage showed the site covered in water

Last week's flood, he said, was "bad" but not as severe as previous years.

"Ten years ago, nine years ago, the flood over new year would have been absolutely horrific.

"Today I am sitting here thinking that's just par for the course now.

"Our climate has changed... and where it would happen once a year, it is now multiple times a year."

The showground's reception desk was lifted out of the building by the water

Mr Bebbington said that a "sticky gloop" was left behind by floods for the team to clean up.

He said they would be jet washing to clean up the mud.

"When the water stays in for a period of time, it has chance to settle, the sediment, and it actually gets everywhere.

"I am looking at a three-week to four-week clean up.

"It is a lot of elbow grease."

The site was due to host about 200 caravanners over the new year period, whose visits had to be cancelled at additional cost to the venue.

The clean up will take between three and four weeks, Mr Bebbington said

He said it was likely the team at the showground would organise a community clean-up to help get the site back to normal.

"The showground is one thing, we can do elbow grease, we can get it up and running," Mr Bebbington added.

"When people arrive back in the spring and for the county show, they wouldn't even believe you that there has been a huge flood there.

"But when it affects people's homes that a whole different ball game."