Little did I suspect when it started to rain on that December weekend that Cumbria would be submerged and the resulting damage and upheaval would take months and even years to put right – Pooley Bridge itself was cut in two when its bridge was swept away in the swollen River Eamont. I would be a story I would revisit on numerous occasions over the next few months as flood-hit communities which were hit picked themselves up again.

Recovery costs will be astronomical, says council leader

AS the Government announced more than £50 million in funding to help flood victims across the north of England, a senior politician saw at first hand the devastation and effects the disaster had inflicted on Eden residents and businesses.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on Wednesday unveiled the £51 million funding package to support flood-hit families and businesses in affected areas — with homeowners each able to claim up to £5,000 to help with flood defence measures aimed at better protecting their properties in the future.

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, visited areas that had been affected, including Appleby, Langwathby and Pooley Bridge, and spoke to Army engineers about the work they were doing inspecting the county’s bridges.

At Appleby public hall he saw mountains of donated food, clothing and other items. He said he wanted to see for himself the effect ofthe floods but also the way communities had responded.

He added that the community and business fund was aimed at getting help to those in need quickly and without fuss. “It’s very much to work with the local community. Being here in Appleby shows how we might back everything the community is doing — they are doing an excellent job,” he said.

Jackie Kirkpatrick, president of Appleby Chamber of Trade, showed the MP around the town during his visit and said it was good that he had visited Appleby.

She added: “If you see things first hand you realise what it’s like. He wanted to come to us and not just Carlisle. I think he will be supportive — we’ve talked about getting the town up and running and doing things in time for Easter.”

During his visit he was accompanied by senior councillors, from both Eden and the county, and Stewart Young, the leader of Cumbria County Council, said they had been working closely with Mr Clark’s department, and that the announcement of the recovery package was “welcome news”.

He added: “We’re only starting to get a real idea of the impact of the flooding but what is absolutely clear is that the cost of recovering from these floods will be astronomical.

“Households are going to need support to get back on their feet and manage while they are unable to return home and we know from experience that businesses will need potentially significant help to bounce back.

“Over and above this package we’re still discussing with DCLG what will be required to rebuild Cumbria’s damaged infrastructure. The damage to our roads and bridges is severe; we have bridges washed away, roads destroyed, thousands of tonnes of debris to remove and communities still cut off.

“The hard fact is that recovery is going to be a long process and there’s no doubt that we will need support over the long term. This is a good start.”

Kevin Beaty, leader of Eden Council, said infrastructure problems would be funded separately, outside the £51 million. He praised the response from local communities and added: “One thing that was very clear is there’s a role for the local communities and the emergency services because it is communities working together.”

A financial appeal launched by Cumbria Community Foundation in the aftermath of the floods quickly topped the £1 million mark.

The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund 2015 is for any individuals or families who suffer financial hardship as a result of the flooding and the money will also help with wider community relief as well as rebuilding projects.

The foundation’s chief executive, Andy Beeforth, said: “We know that it appears the flooding is worse than in 2009 in some areas of the county. People will need financial help to rebuild and we want to have the means to do that.

“It is difficult to assess the scale of the need, but we know that the flooding will cause significant financial hardship and emotional distress. We will be convening meetings with the major voluntary groups involved in the recovery and also with major providers of social housing to assess the impact on their tenants.”

Nurture Lakeland, a Cumbrian charity which promotes responsible tourism and raises funds from visitors for practical conservation, launched the Ullswater Environment Recovery Fund after communities around the lake felt the full force of Storm Desmond and its immediate aftermath.

Karen Mitchell, Nurture Lakeland’s director, said: “The severity of the flooding in the Ullswater and other areas has been really shocking. It’s fantastic how quickly businesses are picking themselves up, mopping up and reopening. And

we can help by raising funds for the work which will be needed in the longer term to repair some of the damage to the local environment so that the visitor economy can thrive again.”

Sue Wallace, chairman of Ullswater Association, said: “Lots of people who really love Ullswater and have seen the pictures of the floods, such as the Pooley Bridge collapsing, have asked how they can donate money to help restore the area.

“Howtown, Glenridding, Patterdale, Pooley Bridge, Watermillock and the surrounding areas have all been affected but it has been a real boost to know that people care so much.”

Rachel Bell, marketing manager at Ullswater Steamers, said: “People come here for the tranquillity and the lakeside landscapes and to cruise the water and walk, so we need to ensure funding is available to repair footpaths and restore access to this spectacular place.”

In addition, Mat Hardcastle, who lives in the Ullswater area, launched his own Ullswater Flood Fund. He said there was a good initial response with donations reaching almost £3,000 — with the initial £1,000 target raised to £5,000.

He added: “A few people have asked the group where the donations will be going. Ullswater Flood Fund has been speaking to the local parish councils around Ullswater this morning and has started to come up with an action plan as to how the funds will be distributed.”

An injection of £500,000 into Cumbria’s recovery funds has been promised by the county’s nuclear industry.

It is made up of cash donations totalling £271,000 as well as in-kind commitments to provide people, materials, equipment and expertise for as long as the community needs it.

The offer covers the whole of the county, not just the west of Cumbria, and people in areas such as Appleby and Glenridding.

Paul Howarth, chairman of the Centre for Nuclear Excellence, said: “We all learned from the 2009 floods that we cannot allow the county to be seen as a no-go zone. We have to bounce back quickly and prove to the world that we’re ready to get back on our feet.”

From The Cumberland & Westmorland Herald on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Community spirit cushions impact of village devastation

THERE was a true sense of community spirit in Eamont Bridge as residents, as well as volunteers from the wider area, rallied around to clear the devastation left in the wake of the flood.

The main A6 route, which runs through the heart of the village, was covered in a thick layer of silt after the waters subsided and it was all hands to the power washers and brushes to sweep away the mess.

Coastguard crews had to evacuate 150 residents of a static residential caravan park at Southwaite Green Mill when water levels became dangerously high and properties overlooking the River Eamont bore the brunt of its advance.

Witnesses who remembered previous floods said the River Eamont’s level was much higher than in 2009 and, as a result, the water covered a wider area, flooding more properties.

For Brian and Irene Nixon, who run the River Garth B&B, on the riverbank, it was the third time they had been hit by floods since moving to the property in 2005.

After the floods of 2009 the couple successfully applied for planning permission to raise the building seven feet off the ground — but the water level almost breached their own personal flood defences this time.

Mr Nixon said: “We’ve lifted the floor level. We’ve gone up about seven feet, which seemed a lot at the time — thankfully it was two breeze blocks from getting up to our new floor level.”

He added that on Saturday he had watched the rising water level before becoming unable to leave the property because it was too deep. “It was chest-high. You couldn’t go out in it. It rose so quickly,” he said.

And, when the water level subsided, their garden walls had been flattened, turf was waterlogged, a garage door had been ripped from its hinges and various items stored inside the basement were ruined.

Mr. Nixon said: “Everybody is doing what they can to help people. There have been lots of offers of help. People pull together but they can only do so much. We have got to assess it and get the priorities right.”

A total of 18 horses had to be evacuated from flooded stables at Happy Hooves Riding Centre on the other side of the river.

Owner Alison Noble, who lives on site, said she felt helpless watching the water level rise on Saturday but was unable to do anything to help the stricken animals because it was too dark and dangerous.

When they managed to lead the horses from the stables, early on Sunday morning, she said the water level was up to their bellies. She added: “I was terrified all night and I didn’t sleep. I waited until first light.”

She said there were plenty of offers of help. “It was amazing the amount of people we’ve had down here. The phone never stopped ringing, there were texts and Facebook messages, I am overwhelmed with the offers of help we’ve had,” she said.

Miss Noble said it was too early to assess the cost of the loss to the business — she did not know whether or not a £49,000 riding simulator was still operational and lessons were cancelled for the foreseeable future. She added: “We are going to get up and running as soon as we can.”

Marcus Gardiner, who only moved into Old Post Office Row earlier this year, said his sons had rung him on Saturday evening to warn him that they were in danger of being flooded.

He said he had been told in 2009 that the water had reached his doorstep and some water had “seeped

in”. “It was a good metre higher than it was in 2009,” he said. He added that they were told it was only a “yellow warning” and initially they were not overly concerned about the danger.

Mr Gardiner said temporary flood barriers were put in place and added: “It has protected us twice on this side (of the village).”

The 42-year-old had been helping to rescue his sister’s animals elsewhere in the village when he got the call about his own home, adding: “They said it had got up to here and it was seeping through the door,” he said.

His 17-year-old son Owen said they had been watching the advance of the water and had placed towels against the door to try to stem the flow but said: “It started coming through the skirting boards before it started coming through the door hinge.”

Joel, his 10-year-old brother, said they were scared and did not know what to think at the time, and 12-year-old Ben said he was the first to see the water coming in. He recalled: “I got Owen and we had to put towels down to try and hold it back.”

By Monday morning, although they had managed to bale out the majority of the water which had filled the ground floor of their home, carpets were still sodden and furniture lay ruined, with watermarks clearly visible.

Chris Battersby, the chairman of Eamont Bridge Parish Council, escaped being flooded in 2009 but was not so lucky over the weekend when water got into his home alongside the A6.

He added: “It’s worse for me this time because I’ve never been flooded before. We got two feet of water through the house, which is soul-destroying really. We’ve lost a lot — but it’s the personal things, such as cards and books, that have been destroyed. There are people that are far worse off than me.”

Tanya Tinkler, who lives in Mayburgh Close, helped to co-ordinate a collection of food and donations of clothing when she saw how the flood had affected her fellow villagers. She said: “People were getting airlifted from Southwaite Green Mill. I don’t like to see people struggling and I thought we could do something to help.”

Initially she accepted donations at her hair salon in Penrith but by Monday her aid operation had been transferred to the village hall. She said: “It’s just gone from strength to strength. This is what I wanted to do. I am speechless — the generosity of people is amazing. If it doesn’t get used here we will get it sent to Carlisle or somewhere else where it is needed.”

On Tuesday, players with Carlisle United football team offered to help where they were needed after that day’s training session and, the day before, Danny Grainger, the team captain, visited his father’s farm in Eamont Bridge.

He said a field next to the river had been flooded and his father had been working through the night to keep the water out of the sheds. He added: “We’ve been quite lucky when you walk around and see the damage that it has done.”

Retired firefighter Dennis Robinson and his wife, Ann, who have lived in Eamont Bridge for about 10 years, were flooded for a second time.

Having been trapped upstairs for 24 hours, they left the property when the water subsided on Saturday evening.

Speaking to the Herald, their son, Paul, said: “They have lost all the furniture downstairs, all the flooring, woodwork and kitchen. I anticipate the house will need rewired and more. They are very strong, brave people and have taken it in good spirits, but I can hear the sadness when I talk to them.

“They usually travel to Leeds for Christmas with my family anyway, but have also been looked after by relatives. Like most Cumbrians we have superb relatives, friends and neighbours who support each other during these times.”

Mr Robinson, a former Penrith Queen Elizabeth Grammar School student who now lives in Leeds, said he was shocked that that such a storm could occur so soon after the last one.

“It shows that the authorities need to re-evaluate the flood defences and building within flood plains,” he said.

“I wanted to travel to family, but figured it would be foolhardy and would be another hazard on the road. As soon as I can I will travel up to see the family and will help in any way I can. But ultimately I feel a bit frustrated and helpless.

“All credit to the emergency services and those who worked so hard through the floods. Plus, I have seen lots of random acts of kindness and generosity, but I think that’s the nature of northerners perhaps!”

From The Cumberland & Westmorland Herald on Saturday, December 12, 2015.