Council response to the impacts of Storm Babet enters recovery phase

Cheshire West and Chester Council will now work with partner organisations to resolve the impacts of flooding and adverse weather, as the Borough continues to recover from Storm Babet last weekend.

On Friday 20 October, Cheshire West and Chester was hit by Storm Babet, with the effects of the rainfall continuing throughout the weekend. Alongside partner organisations, Council officers worked throughout the weekend across day and night to respond to the storm and mitigate its effects.

A multi-agency tactical coordination group, including neighbouring Local Authorities, the NHS, Cheshire Police, Cheshire Fire and Rescue, the Environment Agency, United Utilities and others met at regular intervals across the weekend to coordinate the response and monitor flood warnings and the latest information.

The Council set up an emergency response team, with officers on the ground across the Borough supporting the response long into the night responding to over 600 enquiries and 150 call-outs. Officers assessed road safety resulting in 21 road closures, and delivered 2,090 sandbags. There were 12 tankers and tractors, including four tractors with umbilical pumps assisting the response. Teams conducted emergency clearing of gullies, sweeping of roads and grids, and cleared areas where water had subsided as quickly as possible to ensure the safe reopening of roads.

Flood defences in Northwich town centre had a positive impact. These were deployed on Friday afternoon and night in line with the Northwich Flood Plan. Pumping equipment from the Council, Environment Agency and United Utilities was put in position ready to remove water. People living at Northwich Marina were successfully evacuated with the support of the Police and the Environment Agency, with the Council arranging temporary hotel accommodation for those people who could not stay with family or friends. These actions ensured that there was no repeat of the flooding in the town centre during Storm Christoph in 2021.

Community resilience plans in affected areas such as Crowton and Acton Bridge, including rest centres opening up to help those in need, also had positive impacts. In Acton Bridge, tankers and pumps prevented flooding of properties. At Parkgate Road in Chester, the Highways team assisted with road closure, and tankers and pumps were used to help mitigate effects from flooding.

People in affected areas have since been able to return to their homes or accommodation provided by their insurance companies.

Following any insurance inspections, residents and businesses unable to arrange disposal of damaged items, can make arrangements via our Street Care Service by contacting the contact centre on 0300 123 7026.

Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, said:

“On behalf of the Council, I would like to express our sympathy and support for those affected by Storm Babet. Residents should rest assured that the Council will work with partners to do all it can to resolve the impacts of the storm.

“I would like to thank Council staff and our partners across the Borough for their tireless work across the weekend to keep people safe and reduce the impacts of the storm as much as possible.

“Our focus now turns to the recovery, and this will continue until all impacts of Storm Babet are resolved. We will then review the effects, impact, and response to Storm Babet, to ensure that we can learn any lessons and continuously improve our response to, and mitigation of, future events.”