Call for action 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.
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.
Flood-hit towns must get new defences, says MP
Hundreds forced to leave homes as floods batter region
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Bonnaroo 2025 cancelled after just one night due to severe storms days after co-founder's death
The remainder of music festival Bonnaroo has been cancelled due to weather just days after the death of one of its co-founders. Set to run through Sunday at Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee, the music festival was cancelled Friday evening after hours of delays and even an evacuation notice. 'Today, the National Weather Service provided us with an updated forecast with significant and steady precipitation that will produce deteriorating camping and egress conditions in the coming days,' Bonnaroo shared via Instagram. 'We are beyond gutted, but we must make the safest decision and cancel the remainder of Bonnaroo.' The festival promised at least partial refunds for all ticket holders, many of whom paid hundreds of dollars to attend. Luke Combs was the only of the four headliners to deliver a performance. He took the stage Thursday night and performed alongside fellow country star Miranda Lambert onstage, as well as Marcus King and Jon Bellion. The other headliners, Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo and Hozier, have all had their sets cancelled. Additional performers slated to take the stage included Vampire Weekend, GloRilla, Tyla, Avril Lavigne, Queens of the Stone Age, John Summit, Dom Dolla, and Glass Animals. 'We have put our hearts and souls into making this weekend the most special one of the year, and cannot express how crushed we are to have made this decision,' Bonnaroo's statement concluded. 'Thank you in advance for your patience, your positivity and your unfailing Bonnaroovian spirit.' Many fans were disappointed by the cancellation, with some noting it wasn't the first time in recent years attendees found themselves in this situation. 'Wondering what this means for the future of bonnaroo honestly. 3 cancellations in 5 years isn't looking good for us,' one fan wrote on Instagram. 'First and last bonnaroo. Absolute s*** show, not to mention not a speck of rain was seen after they cancelled,' another shared, while someone else agreed: 'Literally spent THOUSANDS of dollars flying from Hawaii……. first roo and most likely my last.' The fan-favorite festival's last minute cancellation came days after the death of one of its co-founders. Jonathan Mayers, who helped create a number of major American festivals, died earlier this week at 51. No cause of death has yet been announced. In a statement to Billboard, Red Light Management founder Coran Capshaw said: 'This is incredibly tough news for so many of us. Jon was the creative force behind so much of what people experience at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and many other events over the years. We're all really going to miss him.' Mayers co-founded promotions company Superfly with partners Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone and Kerry Black in 1996. They hosted their first concert during Mardi Gras. The four worked together to launch Bonnaroo in 2002 after securing the festival site on farmland in Manchester, an hour outside of Nashville. They worked closely with Capshaw's Red Light Management and other industry figures to book headliners, including the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. In 2008, Mayers partnered with Another Planet Entertainment to create the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Mayers left Superfly acrimoniously in 2021, and the following year sued his former partners Farman, Goodstone and Black, accusing them of civil misrepresentation, breach of contract and fraud. Mayers alleged that they had misrepresented the value of his shares in the promotions company. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2023. Superfly said in a statement to Billboard: 'We are heartbroken with the passing of Jonathan. He was a cherished part of Superfly's story, woven into it's history and legacy. In addition to the role he's played in bringing joy to millions, we will miss his razor sharp wit, infectious smile and contagious laugh. No one could light up a room like Jon.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Man Buries Himself in Snow for Over 2 Hours to Break World Record: 'the Heavy Snow Pressed Me Down'
A Swiss man holds the world record for the longest amount of time in full-body contact with snow Elias Meyer, a competitive powerlifter, took the title on April 2, 2024, after he spent 2 hours, 7 seconds buried under a pile of snow The previous record was held by Polish man Valerjan Romanvoski at 1 hour, 45 minutes, 2 secondsA Swiss man holds the world record for the longest amount of time in full-body contact with snow. Elias Meyer, a competitive powerlifter, took the title on April 2, 2024, after he spent 2 hours, 7 seconds buried under a pile of snow over 3 ft. tall, according to Guinness World Records. Meyer wore nothing but swim shorts during the experience. 'I needed a new challenge and I said to myself, 'Why not?' ' the athlete told Guinness in a video interview at the time. In an Instagram post shared on April 3, 2024, one day after the record-breaking moment, Meyer said that he had trained for the day for over three months. He then went on to describe the physical sensation of being buried in the frigid temperatures. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'The heavy snow pressed me down, causing my shoulders and elbows to ache,' he wrote in the post's caption. 'Perhaps you also feel a sharp ice cube against your back, with no chance to do anything about it, you can only be thankful, thankful for everything.' 'I stopped at two hours because I had to travel home, but there is much more to come,' he added. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! While humans can train themselves to adapt to cold temperatures, there was a real risk of hypothermia during the two hours. Because of this, Meyer made sure to have a hospital, as well as an emergency medical team, near where he was conducting the challenge, along with observers who 'continually monitored his internal body temperature and his health,' per Guinness. Observers noted that Meyer appeared relatively unfazed throughout the ordeal and often appeared to be sleeping with his eyes closed. The previous record for the longest amount of time in the snow was set in 2022 by Valerjan Romanvoski, a Polish man who held the title at 1 hour, 45 minutes, 2 seconds, according to United Press International. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Thunderstorms turn roads into rivers after flood warnings issued
More than 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded overnight as powerful thunderstorms swept across the UK. The Met Office said the 'vast majority' of the lightning struck over the sea, but torrential downpours caused significant flooding and disruption in Kent. Photographs shared on social media showed cars submerged in several inches of rainwater after the storm reached the county at around 10pm on Friday, prompting an amber weather warning. Social media users reported blackouts as a result of the flooding. One X user posted: 'That storm was the worst one I've ever seen. This area really got a direct hit. So much flooding across the Dover/Deal area and so many homes without power.' Another said: 'I've not seen rain like we've had tonight in a very long time. Local roads flooded, people's windows and doors leaking, and undoubtedly, storm overflows will mean sewage spills into the sea.' Kent Police shut down the A256 in Tilmanstone, where one driver was seen sitting on the roof of their car after getting stuck in floodwater. Stagecoach, the bus operator, cancelled services between Dover and Canterbury due to 'severe flooding'. Late on Friday, the Environment Agency issued five flood warnings, where flooding is expected and immediate action is needed. It also issued 49 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. On Saturday morning, the Met Office said that 'areas of heavy and thundery rain continue to push northwards across the country' as yellow warnings remain in place. The storms come as the royal family prepares for Trooping the Colour in London, with the King and the Princess of Wales due to attend. The annual event includes a fly-past over Buckingham Palace, which could be affected if weather conditions do not improve. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
