Whaley Bridge: Town returns to normality

Summary

Whaley Bridge residents spend first day back in the town
Toddbrook Reservoir declared safe yesterday
More than 1,500 people have returned home
Council offers emergency fund cash to business and residents

Live Reporting

Amy Woodfield, Sandish Shoker and Samantha Fisher

Most roads in Whaley Bridge now open againpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Samantha Fisher
BBC News Online
Derbyshire County Council has said most roads around Whaley Bridge are now open again.
A spokeswoman said the A5004 Buxton Road - which runs through the town - reopened this morning with traffic lights.
She said: "High river levels caused by heavy rains last Wednesday and Thursday eroded the riverbed on one side of the bridge and we’re currently carrying out repairs to strengthen the foundations.
"Once the work is completed, the road will be fully reopened which is expected to be within a week."
Image source, Google
She added although most roads are now open, some may have temporary traffic lights to allow for emergency repairs to roads which were heavily used in the clean-up operation.
“Planned roadworks were suspended but now things are returning to normal, scheduled repairs by the county council and utility companies will start up again, which may mean other road closures," she said.
Work to shore up the dam wall continuespublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Samantha Fisher
BBC News Online
Work to shore up the dam at Toddbrook Reservoir in Whaley Bridge is continuing today, as these pictures show.
Image source, Jacob King/PA Wire
Image source, Jacob King/PA Wire
Image source, Jacob King/PA Wire
Edwina: Spending money is 'the best way to help'published at 14:29 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Samantha Fisher
BBC News Online
Former MP and Whaley Bridge resident Edwina Currie has joined others in calling for people to visit the town and spend money.
"It's the best way to help," she said.
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Mood in town very differentpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Matthew Barlow
BBC Radio Derby reporter
There's a mood of jubliation and celebration here in Whaley Bridge.
Grateful messages of thanks to the emergency services have been written on blackboards outside a couple of the businesses.
The reservoir though is still a busy place.
But it's a far, far cry from this time last week.
MP: Agencies and volunteers did 'great job'published at 13:27 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
Environment minister and Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey has tweeted about the Whaley Bridge incident.
She visited the area yesterday morning as residents waited to hear news of whether they could return home.
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Council recruiting emergency volunteerspublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
If you were one of the Whaley Bridge volunteers, or maybe you admired the work they did, then perhaps you'd consider joining the Derbyshire Emergency Volunteers.
Image source, Derbyshire County Council
The group was set up by the county council in 2012 to help people evacuated from their homes in emergency situations.
There's more information on how to join here, external.
Staff thanked for Whaley Bridge responsepublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
The Environment Agency's chief executive is visiting staff to discuss their response to the flood threat in Whaley Bridge.
James Bevan also plans to see the village for himself.
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Residents' emergency line to closepublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Samantha Fisher
BBC News Online
Derbyshire County Council's emergency line for Whaley Bridge residents is closing at 14:00.
However, anyone who needs information or assistance can visit the support centre at Whaley Bridge Primary School until 19:00.
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Support centre open until tonightpublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
The support centre set up at Whaley Bridge Primary School today is open until 19:00.
People from the county and borough councils, and different charities, will be on hand for a chat and to offer advice and help to residents and businesses returning to the town.
Image source, High Peak Borough Council
Firefighters packing up and leavingpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
BBC Radio Derby
Rick Roberts, area manager for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said crews were now leaving the town having spent the last week working round-the-clock at Toddbrook Reservoir.
"This incident was completely unprecedented in the UK, although we do prepare and plan for these kinds of emergency situations so we were able to kick into action and deliver it [the plan] effectively," he said.
He said teams had worked to reduce the level of water in the reservoir, assist in strengthening the dam wall and help place down sandbags.
Image source, PA Media
He said the biggest memory of working there would be the community spirit, adding: "I have never experienced anything like it.
"Just leaving last night and seeing the posters and placards outside people's houses was amazing."
Food bank set up in townpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Anna Jameson
BBC Manchester
Residents and businesses affected by the Whaley Bridge evacuation can apply for an emergency hardship fund from Derbyshire County Council.
It's up to £104 for residents and £300 for businesses.
The authority has also set up a food bank and information hub at Whaley Bridge Primary School.
Residents 'glad beds are still there'published at 11:19 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
BBC Radio Derby
Town councillor David Lomax said there's one overwhelming feeling in the town right now.
"There's just total relief," he said.
"Total relief to be sleeping in your own bed - and knowing first of all that your bed is still in the same position it was and not floating down towards Liverpool."
Image source, PA Media
Trust thanks everyone who helpedpublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
Daniel Greenhalgh, north west director of the Canal & River Trent, has this message for people today.
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Thanks for engineers who built makeshift roadpublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
The people behind a Whaley Bridge Facebook group have paid tribute to workers from an engineering firm that helped out during the disruption.
They wrote, external: "A little bit forgotten and quietly getting on with building the road that took the pumps down to the reservoir and indeed many other things, Kier engineering have been crucial in pulling all the resources together to bring about our fantasic outcome.
"Please join us all here on The Whaley bridge page in thanking them for all they have done."
'Bit like waking up in hospital,' says Edwinapublished at 10:22 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Former MP Edwina Currie lives in Whaley Bridge but was not among those evacuated.
On the town coming back to life, she said: “It feels a bit like waking up in hospital after a really nasty heart attack, when you’re surrounded by pumps and tubes and things bleeping at you.
“You carefully test one limb, check they’re all working. It’s great. It’ll take a little while to get back to normal though.
She's confident this week won't affect the town for long.
"Not least because we’ve had about a thousand key workers here during the emergency," she added.
"They’ve all had a look round and said it’s beautiful up here, what nice people and aren’t the cakes from the shops lovely.
“It’s a very, lively, vibrant, normal community. We don’t have a bookies here but we do eat a lot of cakes. It’s a lovely place to live.”
Drumming up support for businessespublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
There are a lot of messages like this going around on social media today.
People are being encouraged to visit Whaley Bridge over the next few days and weeks to help the local businesses recover from lost trade.
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Whaley Bridge residents struggle for compensationpublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Can people hit by the evacuation of their home town during repairs to the dam claim on insurance?
Read More
Plans to start on repair workpublished at 09:41 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
The Canal & River Trust has thanked residents for their patience and generosity in the last week.
Chairman Allan Leighton and chief executive Richard Parry wrote in a message to residents: "Now that the reservoir has been emptied, our plans to keep it safe are in place and we start the work to plan how to repair and restore the dam.
"Much more information will follow from the Trust in the days ahead – for now, we just want to extend our thanks to all of you for the spirit and resolve you have shown."
Image source, AFP/Getty Images
'The week Whaley became famous'published at 09:26 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Several pieces of artwork have been created over the past few days, depicting a dramatic week for Whaley Bridge residents.
Andrea Walker, who lives in Buxton, has taken a different approach and used her poetry writing skills.
Image source, Andrea Walker
It begins...
"When the dam broke all hell was let loose, the townsfolk had to flee they didn’t get to choose.
"They were displaced and thought nobody would give a damn, but it quickly became apparent that thought, was a sham.
"Such community spirit that came out in such force, everyone got behind them for such a worthy cause..."
You can read the full poem here, external.
Image source, AFP
Help and advice being offeredpublished at 09:05 British Summer Time 8 August 2019
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
A reminder that help is available to people who need it today as they try to get back on their feet after a week of disruption.
Charities are going to be based at the Whaley Bridge Primary School throughout the day for support.
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