Stormy weather has caused damage and disruption to many people, as shops, hospitality businesses and residents faced rapid and continuous onslaught of heavy rain throughout the weekend. There has been a considerable amount of damage caused locally including
Boots the Chemist, on Cheadle High Street. According to staff the roof has already been repaired, but the rain was so heavy that the guttering could not stand the downpour and so the water entered the building causing £500 of damage. Staff rallied and were able to provide a near normal service.
The group of shops at the lower end of Tape Street Car Park; B & M, Iceland and Fresh Produce, were flooded up to a depth of 4 inches. They tried their best to clear the water, but in the end had to accept the services of the fire brigade, leaving them to clear up the black sludge left after the water was pumped out. One staff member told COGNEWS that they worked until 3 am to clear the shop floor of flood damage.
Some Cheadle roads, including routes to other areas were closed. Draycott suffered a landslide leaving one car stranded in the mud for much of the weekend. Many visitors turned back and residents modified their weekend plans.
As Cheadle counts the cost, what caused the flooding? The science behind this flood is; as the planet warms due to Climate Change, the ocean winds can absorb more water from the sea. When these winds reach land the temperature of the air reduces releasing high levels of rain. This means that our traditional defence mechanisms become less effective. It also means that allowing sewage to flow into our rivers puts our health at risk when they overflow. This needs urgent remedial action.
Our short term advice is; make sure your drains and gutters are free of debris, keep flat roofs in good order, and keep an eye on weather forecasts, especially any met office warnings. We'll bring expert advice on this soon, and please continue to do your bit to reduce the effects of climate change in our local area. We've also asked our local council to consider what might be done to mitigate the risks of future floods.
We'd like to thank everyone involved in keeping our town running and noticed some local heroes emerged including one lady who directed traffic to keep part of the town whilst her own home flooded. Massive thank you to all who helped. If you were affected by the floods you can share your experience here. If you need support please contact Lori or Bernie directly.
Cheadle Floods 23.09.24
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