Wigan: Call for action months after 'soul-destroying' flooding
A woman whose home was submerged during the New Year's Day flooding has called for urgent action to create new defences after the "soul-destroying" devastation of her home.Dawn Royds had to wade out of her home in Platt Bridge, Wigan, after the deluge that caused widespread damage in a number of towns across Greater Manchester. Local MP Josh Simons said residents in the area were "right to be angry" about the lack of progress on a flood protection scheme. Floods minister Emma Hardy visited residents and businesses in the town weeks after the floods in January and said £2.4bn had been earmarked by the government for new defences across the country.
But residents said they are yet to see any concrete action.
About 100 homes in Wigan were flooded on New Year's Day, including Mrs Royds home on Templeton Road.The area also suffered a similar major flood in 2015, and Mrs Royds said she felt "let down" after being told by local authorities that it wouldn't happen again". She said: "After the last flood, and what we went through, I just feel it [flood defences] should have been done."I just want to sell up and get a bungalow somewhere, but who is going to buy this now."The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham visited those affected alongside the local MP to push for more support for the area.
'Overlooked again'
He said: "This is a public safety issue. Does Platt Bridge get the same attention as more affluent areas?"That's what people feel, and I think they're right to ask that question, I am asking that question."Simons said he shared his constituents' anger and said he would "not let the area be overlooked again".A spokesman for the Environment Agency said protecting people and communities against the impact of flooding was their "top priority".The spokesman said the agency was working with other local authorities towards "developing a new plan to reduce flood risk in the area".
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Severn Valley Railway: How do you repair a heritage railway landslip?
Following a storm at the end of January, the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) suffered a major blow - a serious landslip that halted some services and cost tens of thousands of affected area was between the Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade stations, and meant that trains could not operate railway runs for 16 miles from Kidderminster in Worcestershire to Bridgnorth in how do you fix a major issue on a heritage railway line that was built in the 1860s? It's something Antony Bartlam - a structural engineer and project manager at SVR - has been working hard to deal with. He has been involved with SVR for more than 10 years, and spent the last three overseeing structural worksHe described the landslip as a "complete freak accident." "We had a tree that wasn't on our land, it fell and caused some damage to one of the wing walls on the bridge," he said."That allowed water to get behind the wing wall and that then caused the collapse."We'd actually inspected that bridge not long beforehand, so we knew it was in good condition."A lot of paperwork needed to be filled out before any work could actually process began with an insurance claim, which required evidence to prove that the slip was an accident. It was then on to contractors."They're very experienced with railway work, they said that it's one of the most complex jobs that they've had to undertake," said Mr job needed involvement from Shropshire Council and the Environment Agency before working in the watercourse."We've had to have surveys done for animals like otters and crayfish, anything that's in the brook that could be affected by what we're doing."Earlier this week, the embankment was dug out to allow a new wall to be constructed. Next, they will pour concrete for the new foundation, and the wall will go up."That embankment and the wing wall have been there for 160-odd years and nothing has happened to it, and that's why it's such a freak accident," said Mr Bartlam. "We had floods back in 2007 which caused a major problem with the railway... I would probably equate them to that in terms of the damage that it's caused."He added it would be a "big relief" when the section was open again."Bridgnorth has been very cut off, I know retail trade has been affected by the railway not running up there."Once the work is completed, testing will take place, followed by monitoring for about a month."That'll be a little bit of a nervous time to make sure everything's settled in and is working as it should do, but once that's completed then there should be no further issues," said Mr railway is due to fully reopen on 25 July. The Flying Scotsman will run on 26 and 27 July - tickets for which sold out in three minutes. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Club World Cup clash suspended with delay of over an hour expected as ‘lightning is on the way'
STORM SHOCK Club World Cup clash suspended with delay of over an hour expected as 'lightning is on the way' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENFICA's Club World Cup clash with Auckland City has suffered a huge hold-up - as fans run for cover from predicted lightning. Organisers warned there could be a delay of more than an hour - with the Portuguese giants 1-0 up on the brink of half-time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up One warning predicted "excessive lightning2 in the area of the Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. 1 A weather warning was flashed up at the venue THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN
Telegraph
20 hours ago
- Telegraph
What to do if your home is in one of Britain's expanding floodplains
As climate change accelerates and the weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, the risk of flooding across the UK is rising sharply. Around 6.3 million properties in England are now located in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water, according to the Environment Agency's most recent National Flood Risk Assessment (Nafra2). As flood risk maps are updated to reflect climate data and improved modelling, more people may find their homes reclassified as being in a floodplain. Here, Telegraph Money explains why flood zone designations are changing, what it could mean for you and the steps you can take to protect your home and finances. Why are flood zones changing? Are flood zone reclassifications becoming more common? What does it mean for your contents and buildings insurance? Are there any other financial implications? What to watch out for when buying a property What if I live in a flood-prone area? Why are flood zones changing? In recent months, the Environment Agency has introduced several major updates to its flood risk datasets and online mapping tools as part of the Nafra2 project. These updates reflect both changes in climate patterns and improvements in data and modelling to offer a more accurate picture of flood risk. Paul Smith, of The Strategic Land Group, said: 'As a result of climate change the UK is expected to get wetter, with more intense rainfall. This will change the pattern and frequency of flooding in comparison to what we have experienced before.' Babek Ismayil, chief executive and founder of home buying platform OneDome, added: 'Flood zones are updated as new environmental and meteorological data becomes available. Agencies like the Environment Agency reassess areas based on factors such as rainfall patterns, river flow, sea-level rise and changes in land use. 'As modelling becomes more accurate, properties that were previously seen as low-risk may now fall within areas recognised as having a greater flood threat.' Are flood zone reclassifications becoming more common? With climate change contributing to more extreme and unpredictable weather, the number of areas designated as flood risk zones is increasing, according to Andrew Boast, property specialist at SAM Conveyancing. He said: 'Rising sea levels, heavier rainfall and overwhelmed drainage systems lead to more areas being identified as floodplains.' Laura Xu, of climate risk analytics company Climate X, added: 'Development in greenfield or previously undeveloped areas can exacerbate surface water flooding. Together, these factors are making flood zone updates – and reclassifications – more common.' According to the Nafra2 data, one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by 2050. Blake Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to ask what support will be provided to those who now find themselves living on a floodplain. Mr Stephenson said that updated flood zone data meant many of his constituents found their home categorised as being in a floodplain. What does it mean for your contents and buildings insurance? If your home is in a newly designated flood zone, it could affect your home insurance costs and coverage at renewal. Alex Parker-Walklate, chief insurance officer at Intelligent Insurance, said: 'Being in a floodplain might lead to flood exclusions, higher premiums or a larger excess, albeit most insurers also have their own flood modelling to determine which properties are most at risk of flooding.' Fortunately, the introduction of the Government's Flood Re scheme in 2016 means affordable contents and buildings insurance is available to many homeowners in flood-prone areas. However, this doesn't cover homes built since 2009 or blocks of flats with three or more residences. This is because Flood Re was designed to support existing homes, not encourage development in high-risk areas. If you're not covered by Flood Re and your home is now in a floodplain, it can be worth speaking to an insurance broker who can help you explore specialist cover options. Are there any other financial implications? As well as affecting the amount you pay for home insurance, being in a floodplain can potentially reduce your property's value and make it more difficult to sell your home. In its Financial Stability Report last year, the Bank of England warned of the risk to home values from extreme weather. It said: 'Reduced insurance availability and increased costs could pose further potential challenges to financial stability, by putting downwards pressure on house prices and exposing households and lenders to greater losses.' Mr Boast said: 'You must inform a potential buyer if any part of the property (whether buildings or surrounding garden or land) has ever been flooded, including if this affected the property's insurance premiums.' Securing a mortgage or remortgaging may also be more challenging if the property is now within a designated flood zone. 'Some mortgage lenders will not lend where the security property is located within a high flood-risk area. They may request a more detailed Flood Risk Assessment before they agree to lend to the borrower,' added Mr Boast. If you're struggling to get a mortgage, it's sensible to speak to a mortgage broker who specialises in flood-risk properties. They can connect you to lenders that may be more willing to offer you a mortgage, depending on your situation. What to watch out for when buying a property Before buying, it's crucial to check a property's proximity to rivers, streams or the coast and look for signs of past surface water flooding, which may suggest a higher reclassification risk in future. Poor drainage or frequent standing water after rain can also be indicators, according to Mr Ismayil. He said: 'Always consult the Environment Agency's flood risk maps and consider commissioning a specialist flood risk assessment during the conveyancing process. Areas with ongoing or planned flood mitigation projects may also signal recognised risk.' Mr Boast added: 'Search data can often flag flood risk within the local area; however, this doesn't specifically mean your property is affected. Investigate all evidence through searches, the sellers and your survey to decide whether to buy a property in a high flood-risk area.' You can check the immediate flood risk by using the online Environment Agency tool, as well as the long-term flood risk for areas in England by using the tool on the government website. What if I live in a flood-prone area? If your home is already in a floodplain or it's recently been reclassified, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk and impact of flooding. These include installing flood defences such as flood doors and air brick covers, raising electrical sockets and appliances such as washing machines and moving valuables and important documents to higher floors. Taking early action can help protect your home and may improve your chances of getting appropriate insurance and finance.
