Weather fears end trips back home for evacuated Whaley Bridge residents

Decision taken to cease visits as storm clouds gather

A decision has been taken with immediate effect today to halt visits by evacuated residents to their homes to collect medicines or pets in Whaley Bridge.

The original decision was to allow residents to collect pets and urgent medication and other vital items.

Residents and businesses were supported by police throughout Friday evening and yesterday to enter their addresses for a brief and controlled period.  

More than 1,500 residents were evacuated on Thursday when there were fears the Toddbrook Reservoir dam could collapse, flooding the town, following torrential downpours.

Today police said the attention of officers and other responders now must be on the preservation of life and, while there was an urgent need over the past 24 hours to allow residents back into the area, their first duty is to protect the lives of the public and emergency services.

Further heavy rain is forecast from around 1pm today which also has the potential to increase the flow of water entering the Toddbrook Reservoir.

The multi-agency response to the incident continues today as work goes on around the clock to ensure the safety of the town and surrounding area.

The helpline number for evacuated residents is 01629 533190. This number is open between 9am and 10pm and there is an answerphone facility outside of these hours.

There is also an e-mail address for anyone wishing to donate items or services, this is emergency.planning@derbyshire.gov.uk

Further information about the situation will be given as soon as it is available – and we ask local residents to follow the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook (@derbyshireconstabulary) and Twitter (@DerbysPolice) pages and website: https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/news/derbyshire/news/