Flood misery for little Noah
Jan 26 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Flood misery for little Noah
FLOOD-HIT residents of a Liversedge street have been left homeless for the second time in seven months.
Homes on Ings Crescent, Littletown, which has only eight properties, were swamped when the River Spen burst its banks on Monday.
It is only seven months since they were washed out during last summer’s floods.
Howard and Joanne Firth had just moved back in to their home after a major clean-up operation and thousands of pounds of repairs.
They live with their two children, including their five-month-old son, who they named Noah following the last flood.
Mr Firth said they would again be out of their house for months.
“The experts said it was a one-off last time, and here we are again,” he said.
“All the work we did on the last occasion has been ruined.
“Everybody says we can get compensation and insurance pay-outs, but that’s not the point – it’s all the going to and fro and the hassle.
“We wouldn’t be able to sell the house because no-one would take it.”
Jeanne Brown, 57, has been in her house for 25 years and said it had never flooded before last summer.
Her home was under seven inches of floodwater on Monday.
Ms Brown said: “It’s absolutely terrible. We are in a hotel at the moment, which is nice but it’s not like being at home: you can’t relax.
“I feel like because there’s only a few of us on the street, we were forgotten about when we flooded.
“We need some flood defences putting up. We can’t be facing this every time it rains.”
Liversedge and Gomersal councillor Margaret Bates backed the residents’ call for action.
She said: “Something has to be done for these poor people. Their nerves are shattered every time heavy rain is forecast.
“We want answers as to what can be done. There must be something between Cleckheaton and the Swan traffic lights that’s causing the problems. I’m backing the residents 100% in their calls for flood defences.”
Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood said he would be visiting the street this weekend.
He said: “I understand how upsetting it is for these people and I will be contacting Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and Kirklees Council to see if there’s more protection that can be provided.”
