Friday 20 November 2009

Keswick Floods Update

Firstly, we would like to express our condolences to the family of the local police officer Pc Bill Barker who died tragically and heroically trying to save others during the flooding.

Secondly, we have been informed that there are no bus services running into or out of Keswick at the moment.


Thirdly, this bridge photographed by me yesterday has been declared unsafe for motor vehicles and pedestrians and has been closed.  This is the Greta Bridge and is the main road out of Keswick towards Cockermouth just before the garage on High Hill.

The waters are receding now but the town is not back to normal as the switching on of the lights which should have been tonight has been cancelled along with the Food Fayre.  Also not all Keswick shops are open as many of the shop assistants do not live in Keswick but West Cumbria and cannot get to work.  (The local butcher told me today he had to take a wide northern detour to avoid the closed roads.)

It looks like some guest houses will be taking in some of the many people whose homes have been flooded and they may not have enough accommodation for all so the advise if you intend to come to Keswick is to check first with your intended provider. My advise would be to not come at all, but to leave the locals to recover from what has been a traumatic experience. The fells are sodden so no joy is to be had there and the town is not back to normal yet. Also major traffic disruptions are still unavoidable, so think before you commit to a holiday because you might not enjoy it.

Basically, please take care if you do come, the locals have been hit hard and this is a tragedy of major proportions for Cumbria.

5 comments:

rita said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rita said...

I'm so sorry and I'm so sad and, following your Cumbria news, I'm gazing at the videos and pictures and I can't believe it. Take care. In mind I'm with you all the time.

Unknown said...

I was in Keswick on holiday when the floods struck. I evacuated yesterday and glad that I did. Keswick is such a lovely town with amazing walks. I have visited for 7 years and never have seen anything so devastating. Codolences to PC Bakers family. Well done to the rescue services

Lyn Armstrong said...

Yes the rescue services have been magnificent and are still on call. The Keswick Mountain Rescue Team are part of the operation and doing a superb job in very difficult circumstances. We are lucky we have them. Thanks for your thoughts.

Tess said...

My condolences to the family of PC Baker, such a sad loss. He died doing a very brave thing, and should be given a posthumous award.

We're fine on the road where we live, although we did have a fireman come round on Thursday night to warn us that we could be evacuated. Thankfully that didn't happen. One of my work colleagues works in Cockermouth, and we've not heard how she's getting on. Problem is, the River Derwent's at the back of her house! And one of my other colleagues lives by River Greta - she told us on Friday that they thought there was thunder, but it turned out to be the river taking away part of their neighbour's house foundations! A pretty scary situation, coupled with the fact that there was a raging river just centimetres under one of their windows.
My thoughts are with those who have been evacuated, hopefully they'll get back to some form of normality soon.