“We will bounce back”.
That was the promise from the manager of a popular climbing gym in Brighouse devastated by flooding.
Benn Stoker, of ROKT Climbing Gym, at Sugden’s Old Flour Mill, Milroyd Street, says £40,000 is needed to restore its facilities and has set up a giving page with the hope of raising £20,000 towards the cause.
He was the first to notice the problems when he called in on Boxing Day, a day which ended with the entire bottom floor completely flooded.
He said: “There was about four to five feet of water in certain areas from the river.
Flooding in Brighouse
“It has destroyed all our downstairs section and the matting and carpeting as well as causing structural damage.
“I came down on Boxing Day and couldn’t get through the gate, the flooding had covered our car park.
“We eventually managed to get into the building and started to try and shift as much climbing equipment and electrical devices as possible to higher levels.
“But by lunchtime we were that submerged so we had to retire to The Millers, our pub nearby which had been flooded as well but not so badly.
“We need to replace the matting and carpeting and the structural work needs to be done.
“But if we can get £20,000 that will go towards getting us back up and running.
“We managed to reopen some of the facilities at 10am this morning (Tues) as we had managed to salvage the rope climbing.
“We have had an army of volunteers helping for the last three days and have managed to run some of the sessions.
“We are looking ahead. It is full steam ahead.”
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The gym was set up in 2011 and has proved an extremely popular attraction in the area. It is not the first time it has been flooded.
It was hit in June 2013 but was damaged to a much lesser extent.
