Whaley Bridge Residents Told It’s Safe To Return To Their Homes

Residents of Whaley Bridge have been told they can return to their homes, six days after being evacuated due to fears a dam at the Toddbrook Reservoir could burst. 

Authorities evacuated over 1,500 people last week, though around 15 refused to leave their homes. 

A handful were allowed to return home on Tuesday night and on Wednesday afternoon, Derbyshire police confirmed it is safe for the remainder to go back.

Praising the “hard work and dedication” of those who have worked to ensure the safety of the town, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: “At the forefront of our thoughts are the communities affected by this incident who have been steadfast in the face of the peril that lay behind that dam wall.

“The danger posed by the millions of tonnes of water, which would have destroyed homes and livelihoods, could not be underestimated.

“Over the coming days and weeks further work will be completed to ascertain the damage caused to the dam wall and what actions are required for the future. We must not forget that the dam is broken.”

There will also be a visible police presence in the town for the next seven days, Swann said, to help the community and address any concerns. 

Residents are being warned that there may be delays on the roads as they return to their hones, while the A5004 Buxton Road remains closed for urgent bridge repairs. 

Work on the dam will continue 

Despite most people having to wait until today to return, representatives of the police and the Environment Agency said on Tuesday the water level had dropped way below the target of eight to 9.5 metres.

Police said a safe water level at the reservoir had been reached after around 17% of the reservoir’s capacity had been pumped out.

Residents were also told engineers would assess the damage to the wall before making a decision on allowing more people to return.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning covering much of England, including the Derbyshire town, on Friday and Saturday.

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