Whaley Bridge residents can return to their homes for good after six nights away as dam is now safe
RESIDENTS of Whaley Bridge have been allowed to return to their homes today after six nights away as the damaged reservoir dam is now deemed to be safe.
More than 1,500 residents had been evacuated from the Derbyshire town since Thursday as there were fears the dam wall could collapse following heavy rain, although a small number refused to leave their homes.
The immediate danger posted to Whaley Bridge has now passed, police said.
This is despite the fact the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning covering much of England, including the Derbyshire town, on Friday and Saturday.
Police said a safe water level at the reservoir had been reached after around 17 per cent of the reservoir’s capacity had been pumped out.
Derbyshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: “The hard work and dedication to achieve this has been quite simply incredible.
“At the forefront of our thoughts are the communities affected by this incident who have been steadfast in the face of the peril that lay behind that dam wall.
“The danger posed by the millions of tonnes of water, which would have destroyed homes and livelihoods, could not be underestimated.”
She said work will now be carried out to ascertain the damage caused to the dam wall and what actions are required for the future.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “So pleased to hear that Whaley Bridge residents, who have shown such spirit and patience, are being allowed back into their homes.
“I want to thank the volunteers, emergency services, Armed Forces and all who responded with such professionalism and dedication.”
RESIDENTS RETURN HOME
One resident who has returned, John Lomas, said: “It’s great to be back home. All the services guys have done an excellent job, I’m very proud of them all.”
Another returning resident, Melissa Broxup, described the last few days as being “an absolute nightmare”.
She added: “I’ve not been able to go anywhere and Whaley is so quiet. Everyone in Whaley has been amazing. It’s not easy.”
Asked what it was like to be one of the first to be let back in, she said: “It’s great. I can finally get some sleep. I just can’t wait to get back in my flat.”
Some residents had defied police warnings to leave their homes – even after being told they would face arrest if they did not evacuate.
Cops had warned of a “substantial threat to life” had the dam wall collapsed.
Malcolm Venton, 77, who stayed with partner Lorraine Ellis, 64, said: “It’s vindicated us really, I felt that we were never in much danger and that’s proven to be the case.
“A police woman this morning asked me if I was was one of those refusing to move and I sad ‘yes’.
“She said that I was ‘foolish’ and told me ‘we’ll be the ones who have to retrieve your bodies’.
“We were only just within the evacuation zone and if anything were to happen, I had a bag packed and the car parked outside to drive literally 200 yards or so up the hill to the safe area.
“It didn’t seem worth all the hassle of moving out to a temporary shelter, particularly as one of our border collies, Meg, is sick at the moment and is limping and so hardly able to move.
“All that upheaval wouldn’t have been fair on her.”
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On Tuesday an RAF Chinook was again drafted in to help the previously dropped bags of aggregate settle into place.
RAF Regional Liaison Officer for the North West, Wing Commander Gary Lane, said: “The work we have done is just finding its feet.
“When you put a load of aggregate down it needs stamping in, we’ve not been able to flatten that because it has just been dropped.”
He said about 100 military personnel had been drafted in to help with the dam.
Deputy Chief Constable Swann insisted security measures were still in place in the area following reports of burglaries and prowlers.
She said: “We can assure you that security of the area continues. We are using drones regularly to patrol the area.”
The dam will eventually have to be rebuilt.
The Environment Agency said there is still “significant” work to be done to bring the dam to a condition where “long term safety can be assured”.
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