Post by Admin on Dec 10, 2015 11:37:34 GMT
Residents in Glenridding were devastated by flooding for a second time last night after the flood defences were overtopped.
Clean up teams have now moved in to remove debris from the village.
During the night Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, police, mountain rescue teams and highways monitored the situation.
Four fire engines and two swift water rescue teams were required and highways use more than 300 sandbags to try to prevent further damage.
A pump was due to return today to remove water from the Glenridding Hotel.
A council spokesman said: “To have two such significant floods one after the other is a real blow. Emergency services did a fantastic job overnight to support the local community."
Glenridding Bridge has reopened. It was closed following the overnight flooding and a full structural inspection was carried out as a priority due to the importance of the bridge for access to the village.
Flooding has now affected the A66 near Greta Bridge and the police and the Highways Agency were monitoring the lake at Ambleside overnight as water was spilling onto the road.
Motorists are advised to use alternative routes in this area which may take longer and only be accessible by 4x4 vehicles.
There nine alerts are three flood warnings in place for Cumbria. Two warnings are for the River Greta at Keswick and Keswick Campsite.
The third warning is for the River Eden at Carlisle.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The lower Eden is now responding following heavy rainfall overnight. Whilst this rain is expected to clear later this morning, it is expected the Eden will overflow onto parts of Rickerby Park as well as parts of Stoney Holme and Swifts golf courses.
"Current forecasts suggest that property flooding is unlikely to occur. The river is not expected to peak until after 12pm.”
Firefighters were also called to Bampton Grange, near Penrith, at about 8.45 last night where the drainage system had overflowed and flooded the village. They used a mains water pump and light volume pump to deal with the flood water.
BRIDGES: A number of bridges remain closed with many still in need of structural inspections.
Eden Bridge, which links North Carlisle to the rest of the city, is still closed today.
An underwater inspection could not be completed yesterday due to high water levels and Cumbria County Council said it will not be reopened to traffic or pedestrians until it is found to be structurally safe.
Bridge engineers have inspected the above-water structures, but a below water survey is also necessary given the unprecedented river levels and the potential for unseen damage.
A spokesman said: "Unfortunately due to continuing high water levels and its speed, it is not safe for divers to enter the water to carry out inspections.
"As soon as water levels recede and it is safe for divers to enter the river these inspections will be undertaken as a priority.
"If, and only if, the assessment demonstrates that the bridge is sound, and safe for use, will it be re-opened."
With Rickerby Memorial Footbridge also closed there is now no vehicle or pedestrian route across the Eden in the city. Those without their own car will have to make use of public transport to access the south side of the river.
Despite that warning, some people have been attempting to cross it.
People living north of the River Eden face a trek along the city's northern bypass. Many areas of the city are suffering congestion as a result.
Police have also received reports of people ignoring warnings not to cross closed bridges across the county.
Eden Bridge is one of 131 bridges across the county the council identified as needing inspection. Of these, 72 have been inspected and the remainder were set to be completed yesterday.
Pooley Bridge and Middleton Hall Bridge have both been completely lost, while Little Braithwaite Bridge, Gowan Old Bridge (Staveley), Hawes Bridge (Natland), Abbey Bridge (Staveley) and Millers Footbridge in Cockermouth have been partially lost.
Divers were due to examine Greta Bridge (Keswick), Derwent Bridge (Cockermouth), Eamont Bridge (near Penrith) and St Lawrence Bridge (Appleby) and the bridge at New Road, Burneside. These are all closed pending inspections.
Rickerby Memorial Footbridge (Carlisle) is closed pending bridge repairs.
A council spokesman said: "We understand that these closures are making getting around more difficult, but they are being done for safety reasons and it is important that people respect the closure notices.
"People attempting to use the bridges and then being turned away are causing traffic congestion, so please use alternative routes."
He added that the council was now considering temporary structures.
"The situation is changing hourly and we're working as fast as we can with army colleagues to assess the overall impact on our highways infrastructure. There is no doubt the damage is of a scale we've never seen before, there are 1000s of tonnes of debris on roads, carriageways and bridges washed away and that's only the damage we can see now. As we clear up there is no doubt more will emerge. We'd ask the public to be patient as we try and get Cumbria moving again."
Superintendent Justin Bibby said: “It is imperative that members of the public listen to the advice regarding the closure of bridges. The bridges are closed for a reason and we do not want anyone to risk their lives.”
While the A69 was reopened yesterday, weight restrictions remain in place.
Officials are reminding wagon drivers not to ignore the 7.5tn limit, but to instead find alternative routes.
Vehicles which are affected by strong winds are being advised to avoid using the A66. Drivers of vehicles such as empty lorries or caravans are encouraged to find less exposed routes until conditions subside.
Source: www.newsandstar.co.uk
Clean up teams have now moved in to remove debris from the village.
During the night Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, police, mountain rescue teams and highways monitored the situation.
Four fire engines and two swift water rescue teams were required and highways use more than 300 sandbags to try to prevent further damage.
A pump was due to return today to remove water from the Glenridding Hotel.
A council spokesman said: “To have two such significant floods one after the other is a real blow. Emergency services did a fantastic job overnight to support the local community."
Glenridding Bridge has reopened. It was closed following the overnight flooding and a full structural inspection was carried out as a priority due to the importance of the bridge for access to the village.
Flooding has now affected the A66 near Greta Bridge and the police and the Highways Agency were monitoring the lake at Ambleside overnight as water was spilling onto the road.
Motorists are advised to use alternative routes in this area which may take longer and only be accessible by 4x4 vehicles.
There nine alerts are three flood warnings in place for Cumbria. Two warnings are for the River Greta at Keswick and Keswick Campsite.
The third warning is for the River Eden at Carlisle.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The lower Eden is now responding following heavy rainfall overnight. Whilst this rain is expected to clear later this morning, it is expected the Eden will overflow onto parts of Rickerby Park as well as parts of Stoney Holme and Swifts golf courses.
"Current forecasts suggest that property flooding is unlikely to occur. The river is not expected to peak until after 12pm.”
Firefighters were also called to Bampton Grange, near Penrith, at about 8.45 last night where the drainage system had overflowed and flooded the village. They used a mains water pump and light volume pump to deal with the flood water.
BRIDGES: A number of bridges remain closed with many still in need of structural inspections.
Eden Bridge, which links North Carlisle to the rest of the city, is still closed today.
An underwater inspection could not be completed yesterday due to high water levels and Cumbria County Council said it will not be reopened to traffic or pedestrians until it is found to be structurally safe.
Bridge engineers have inspected the above-water structures, but a below water survey is also necessary given the unprecedented river levels and the potential for unseen damage.
A spokesman said: "Unfortunately due to continuing high water levels and its speed, it is not safe for divers to enter the water to carry out inspections.
"As soon as water levels recede and it is safe for divers to enter the river these inspections will be undertaken as a priority.
"If, and only if, the assessment demonstrates that the bridge is sound, and safe for use, will it be re-opened."
With Rickerby Memorial Footbridge also closed there is now no vehicle or pedestrian route across the Eden in the city. Those without their own car will have to make use of public transport to access the south side of the river.
Despite that warning, some people have been attempting to cross it.
People living north of the River Eden face a trek along the city's northern bypass. Many areas of the city are suffering congestion as a result.
Police have also received reports of people ignoring warnings not to cross closed bridges across the county.
Eden Bridge is one of 131 bridges across the county the council identified as needing inspection. Of these, 72 have been inspected and the remainder were set to be completed yesterday.
Pooley Bridge and Middleton Hall Bridge have both been completely lost, while Little Braithwaite Bridge, Gowan Old Bridge (Staveley), Hawes Bridge (Natland), Abbey Bridge (Staveley) and Millers Footbridge in Cockermouth have been partially lost.
Divers were due to examine Greta Bridge (Keswick), Derwent Bridge (Cockermouth), Eamont Bridge (near Penrith) and St Lawrence Bridge (Appleby) and the bridge at New Road, Burneside. These are all closed pending inspections.
Rickerby Memorial Footbridge (Carlisle) is closed pending bridge repairs.
A council spokesman said: "We understand that these closures are making getting around more difficult, but they are being done for safety reasons and it is important that people respect the closure notices.
"People attempting to use the bridges and then being turned away are causing traffic congestion, so please use alternative routes."
He added that the council was now considering temporary structures.
"The situation is changing hourly and we're working as fast as we can with army colleagues to assess the overall impact on our highways infrastructure. There is no doubt the damage is of a scale we've never seen before, there are 1000s of tonnes of debris on roads, carriageways and bridges washed away and that's only the damage we can see now. As we clear up there is no doubt more will emerge. We'd ask the public to be patient as we try and get Cumbria moving again."
Superintendent Justin Bibby said: “It is imperative that members of the public listen to the advice regarding the closure of bridges. The bridges are closed for a reason and we do not want anyone to risk their lives.”
While the A69 was reopened yesterday, weight restrictions remain in place.
Officials are reminding wagon drivers not to ignore the 7.5tn limit, but to instead find alternative routes.
Vehicles which are affected by strong winds are being advised to avoid using the A66. Drivers of vehicles such as empty lorries or caravans are encouraged to find less exposed routes until conditions subside.
Source: www.newsandstar.co.uk