Whaley Bridge: Some residents allowed home after reservoir water levels drop

Some of the residents evacuated from their homes in Whaley Bridge have been told it is now safe for them to return.

The announcement came on Tuesday after it was found that water levels at the nearby dam at Toddbrook Reservoir in Derbyshire had dropped by 9.5m (31ft).

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann noted the “fast speed” at which the water had dropped after emergency teams worked to pump the excess out.

She added: “We will keep draining the water until it is safe to stop.”

More than 1,500 people around the town have been forced to leave their homes since last Thursday after downpours heightened fears that the nearby dam could burst.

Other residents, who have not yet been given the all-clear, will remain evacuated until a further inspection can be carried out on Wednesday.

According to Ms Swan, “good news” is expected to be heard for these residents at the meeting.

Wednesday’s inspection will be looking to ensure the dam wall can cope under the pressure of further rainfall, which is forecast later this week.

Ms Swann said she appreciated it had been a “traumatic time” for many evacuees, and stressed that “everyone is working around the clock” to allow them to return home as soon as possible.

She added: “Our main concern remains the safety of the public in Whaley Bridge and those people will only be allowed to return to the town when it is deemed absolutely safe and they are no longer at risk.

“I would like to thank them for their patience, support and understanding.”

Derbyshire Police have deployed officers around Whaley Bridge to conduct patrols for returning residents who are concerned about the safety of their own properties.

A drone is also planned to continue roaming the area after at least one homeowner reported being burgled during the time they have spent under evacuation.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement on Tuesday that “work is ongoing” at the dam, and rejected claims that it had now been considered safe.

The department said: “Nowhere have we said that the dam is safe now.

“Work is ongoing, and road closures and evacuations are still in place to preserve life.

“We will open roads and let people return home as soon as we can, but we have no way of knowing when this will be.”

An RAF Chinook was reintroduced to the emergency efforts on Tuesday to help re-fill areas where bags of aggregate – a mixture of sand, gravel and stone – had settled.

Speaking about the Chinook’s involvement, RAF Regional Liaison Officer Gary Lane said there was “a small concave area” that needed “a few more bags in”.

He added: “When you put a load of aggregate down, it needs stamping in. We’ve not been able to flatten that because it has just been dropped.

“We’ve done 39 tonnes this morning and we’re seeing how that goes on.”

Mr Lane said around 100 military personnel were also helping with emergency efforts on the dam.

(c) Sky News 2019: Whaley Bridge: Some residents allowed home after reservoir water levels drop