Relief at last for Hucknall residents at flooding blackspot

The devastating floods that hit Thoresby Dale in 2013.

Almost exactly five years ago, homes on Thoresby Dale were under water after heavy rain wreaked havoc.

It was one of the worst-hit areas of a flash storm that brought more 35mm of rain in one hour, and left a total of 600 homes across Hucknall badly damaged.

Residents led a campaign for action, and now a project by Nottinghamshire County Council that should prevent any such catastrophes in the future has been finished.

Floodwater up to knee height on Thoresby Dale.

Chief campaigner Bill Ward, a former country and western singer, who lives on Thoresby Dale, said: “There has been flooding on this road pretty much all my life. But in recent years, it got much worse and went into people’s houses.

“It was heartbreaking to see all the damage the flooding caused. It ruined flooring, plastering and everything.

“We could see how things could be improved, and the council has listened to our suggestions, which is great.

“There is not much more they could have done to stop flooding in the future.”

The scene on Thoresby Dale after the height of the flooding five years ago.

Work began last October and involved adding a new surface water pipe for Thoresby Dale, along with gullies for drainage, which followed the earlier installation of a flood-relief culvert as part of the creation of Hucknall’s inner bypass nearby.

The new systems will channel any future floodwaters at the low point of the road into storage tanks, rather than towards residents’ gardens and homes.

The changes have been carried out after an extensive survey by the county council, alongside Ashfield District Council, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency, coupled with a concerted effort to secure the necessary funding.

Thoresby Dale residents welcoming the scheme include former Hucknall Town football manager Ted Mullane, who had to live for several weeks in a small caravan on his driveway with wife Elaine after their home was flooded out in 2013.

Ted and Elaine Mullane, who had to live in a small caravan on their driveway after their house on Thoresby Dale was completely flooded.

Hucknall councillor Phil Rostance, of the county council, said: “The residents on Thoresby Dale have suffered two major flooding incidents in the last ten years, so these improvements will give them extra protection to help prevent further flooding.

“This project forms part of our long-term flood-risk plan, which also includes a prevention scheme due to start on Titchfield Park Brook in the town.”

Coun John Cottee, chairman of the county council’s communities and place committee, said: “Flooding devastates lives, and we hope that these measures will bring extra protection to residents and businesses in the area.”