Big clean-up begins in Hucknall and Bulwell after devastating floods of Storm Babet

The council will be running a roaming waste service collection on Saturday, October 28, to help people remove flood-damaged furniture and items.

It comes after a traumatic week in which roads became rivers and gardens became lakes in parts of Hucknall and Bulwell as Storm Babet lashed the area.

And despite the warnings, many residents and businsess were not quite prepared for the sheer impact the storm had and were left in shock at what unfolded.

The downpours quickly began to take their toll with some parts of Hucknall suffering devastating flooding, notably the areas in and surrounding Washdyke Lane and Watnall Road, while Ogle Street in the town centre also quickly became a river.

In Bulwell, Main Street and several roads around it became flooded and Bulwell Bogs and the River Leen both saw high water levels.

Hucknall Leisure Centre was initially set up as an evacuation centre on the Friday, but this ended as the rains abated.

Several roads though were closed and the heavy rain brought chaos to the railways as flooding, and then a landslip saw major disruption to services, both on the mainline between Nottingham and London and locallly on the Robin Hood Line between Nottingham and Worksop, with several services cancelled.

Nearby in Newstead Village, your Dispatch reported how 26-year-old Dean Harris rescued two drivers from their submerged vehicles near Newstead Abbey in his canoe.

He said: “I have never seen the river levels so high.

The area does often get flooded but nothing like this, it was surreal.”

The clean-up has now started and this has led to criticism of the council from residents in the badly-hit Washdyke Lane area of Hucknall who say they have had no help from the council.

One said: “People are fuming, not a single worker from the council has been seen in the area, either getting the roads sorted or helping people get flood-damaged stuff out of their houses.”

But Coun John Wilmott (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall North, says the council is taking action to help those affected.

He said: “We estimate that 40 properties across the district have sadly been affected by internal flooding, with the vast majority within Hucknall.

"Our environment teams have been out assisting these residents by removing damaged furniture, as well as clearing debris and litter from the streets and roads

"Our housing teams and community protection officers have been visiting tenants and private properties to identify any immediate risks or urgent needs.

“To further assist, the council will be providing a roving waste collection team to targeted streets in Hucknall to allow flood-affected properties to dispose of damaged furniture, this Saturday between 7am and 11am.

"We will also be sending letters out to all properties with support and guidance on what their next steps are.

"Ashfield Council is committed to supporting our residents through this traumatic time and we will continue to provide guidance, advice and support.”

If your street/road has debris or rubbish build up from the flooding, please report this to the council online so they can clear it.

You can report this by visiting ashfield.gov.uk/environment-health/environment/report-litter