Whaley Bridge: Sixth day of evacuation

Summary

Horwich End residents allowed back home
Meeting tomorrow to decide if Whaley Bridge residents can go home
Amount of water drained surpasses 9m
Emergency services continue to drain Toddbrook Reservoir
Chinook drops more aggregate on to dam wall
Twenty people in 16 properties still refusing to evacuate
Some train services set to resume

Live Reporting

Samantha Fisher and Duncan Leatherdale

Pet rescuers took 1,000 callspublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
A specialist team of animal rescuers have made numerous trips into the evacuation zone at Whaley Bridge to feed and recover pets left behind.
Between Friday evening and Sunday, Animal Search UK took close to 1,000 calls from people in the area asking for or offering help.
Image source, Animal Search UK
Teams from the organisation were able to carry out 15-minute missions to reunite pets with their owners.
Many animals were found to be "very confused and disorientated" while the evacuation was underway.
In one case., the owner of a hamster and cockatiel was at work when the evacuation happened - meaning the animals were left alone without much food or fresh water.
When allowed a short amount of time to retrieve them, it was found the cockatiel had escaped its cage and was " flying around frantically". Thankfully the bird was captured and taken to its owners.
Image source, Animal Search UK
Animal Search UK has thanked Pets at Home for their "extremely generous" donations of essential supplies like carry cases and food.
In a statement, the group said: "It really has been the most overwhelming experience for everyone within the team. The kindness of all the people who have volunteered their help has been truly incredible."
Railway blocked after heavy rain floods the linepublished at 08:35 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
No trains are running from Sheffield to Manchester along the Hope Valley today due to heavy rain flooding the line, according to train operator Northern.
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The emergency currently ongoing in Whaley Bridge is also affecting the line.
Passengers are being advised not to travel.
Water level drainage target could be hit todaypublished at 08:27 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
The drainage target for Toddbrook Reservoir could be met by midday, Derbyshire's Chief Fire Officer has said.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Gavin Tomlinson said: "All the pumps have been running at full capacity and we’re now down to about 7.8m, with about 26% of the contents [of the reservoir] left in.
"The target was a best guesstimate of 25% - about 8m - so we’re getting close. Hopefully we’ll achieve that this morning or nearer dinner time.
"That’s going to allow engineers to come in and undertake an inspection."
Asked whether people would be able to go home today, he said it was "out of my hands".
Image source, AFP/Getty Images
Whaley Bridge 'not yet out of the woods'published at 08:15 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Dave Guest
Chief reporter, BBC North West Tonight
The drone of the pumps has continued throughout the night and will continue throughout today, but they are doing their job - they've managed to lower the level of the reservoir considerably.
They needed to get it to eight metres below what it had been, and by last night it was well below six metres, and they're hoping to reach their target today.
Image source, Panorama
Once they get down to the required level, engineers can examine the dam, see the extent of the damage and make a decision about when it will be safe for people to go back to their homes.
That's what the 1,500 people from Whaley Bridge want to know - they've been out of their homes since Thursday.
Last week we saw the Chinook helicopter hovering over the dam dropping ballast to try to plug the hole in the dam wall. The Chinook is going to be back today dropping sandbags.
The repair appears to be holding but they've got to do some more work on it.
The crucial question is when will the dam be in a position where the engineers feel it's safe for people to go back into Whaley Bridge?
Certainly, the danger we saw last week had receded greatly but they're not out of the woods just yet.
Outpouring of support for emergency servicespublished at 07:48 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
The residents of Whaley Bridge have been getting creative to show their support to emergency services, with signs and artwork paying tribute to the hard-working crews.
Buxton Mountain Rescue Team shared another banner they spotted this morning.
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Water level reduced by nearly eight metrespublished at 07:30 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
It's another early start for emergency services in Whaley Bridge as they carry on working to drain Toddbrook Reservoir.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service's crew at Sheldon Fire Station shared this photo showing the water this morning.
According to BBC correspondent Dave Guest, the level has now dropped by 7.6m.
Image source, Sheldon Fire Station
Wet weather expected tonightpublished at 07:24 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
The weather in Whaley Bridge could worsen later - heavy rain is forecast from about 18:00.
It's not yet known if or how this will affect efforts to reduce the water level at Toddbrook Reservoir.
In the seven days leading up to the severe flood warning, the area recorded 200-240% of the total expected July rainfall.
Meetings to be held for residents and businessespublished at 07:21 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Two meetings are due to take place at Chapel-en-le-Frith High School this evening to keep the people of Whaley Bridge updated.
The first, for residents, will be at 17:00 and the second, for business owners, at 18:30.
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'Danger to life' warning continuespublished at 07:14 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
The severe flood warning for the River Goyt is still in place, meaning there is a "danger to life".
The Environment Agency has warned the water level could rise rapidly as a result of water flowing from Toddbrook Reservoir.
Image source, Environment Agency
Trains to run between Sheffield and Hopepublished at 07:02 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Some train service in the Whaley Bridge area are set to resume today after days of disruption.
East Midlands Trains is reintroducing services between Sheffield and Hope.
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Services on the Liverpool Lime Street/Nottingham/Norwich route will start and terminate at Hope - these are only for customers travelling to/from local stations.
There are no bus connections from Hope towards Stockport/Manchester.
A normal train service is expected to resume tomorrow.
Several residents still refusing to evacuatepublished at 07:01 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Police have said they will "repeatedly visit" 20 people in 16 properties who have refused to leave the evacuation area.
Some of those residents had been allowed to return to collect items on Friday and Saturday and decided to stay.
The Derbyshire force said people cannot legally be forcibly removed, but by choosing to stay they pose a risk to themselves and emergency responders.
Dep Ch Con Rachel Swann, said: "I would though like to once again thank the majority of residents and businesses who have been evacuated from Whaley and the surrounding areas for their patience and the support they have shown to the emergency services and dedicated agencies who are working to keep them safe."
'No increase in flood risk' for River Goytpublished at 06:41 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
The last update on the water level at Toddbrook Reservoir was at 22:00 yesterday when police confirmed it had been reduced by six metres (19 ft).
The water is being pumped from the reservoir into the nearby River Goyt.
Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
The Environment Agency has said it is monitoring this flow of water.
It said: "We are confident that pumping out of Toddbrook Reservoir is being managed in such a way to ensure that there is no increase in flood risk for communities further downstream.
"Flow rates are being kept at a level which will not overspill banks and increase any risk of flooding downstream."
Chinook to drop more bags on dam wallpublished at 06:32 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
The Chinook helicopter is expected to return to Whaley Bridge today to drop more bags of aggregate onto Toddbrook reservoir.
Image source, Derbyshire Police
Police have said this will "maximise the integrity of the dam".
Since Friday morning the wall has been packed with 530 tonnes of of the bags, which are now being cemented into place.
Evacuated residents hopeful end is in sightpublished at 06:31 British Summer Time 6 August 2019
Local people will be spending their sixth day away from home today following the evacuation of Whaley Bridge.
A meeting is due to take place this afternoon in neighbouring Chapel-en-le-Frith, where residents will be given an update on the progress made by emergency services.
Many will be hoping to hear that they could soon be allowed back into their properties.
Image source, AFP/Getty