Flooding in Rochdale - Town Centre under water

Photo: Wendy Randall

Rochdale Town Centre 1.30pm Saturday 26 December

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The town centre has flooded this morning (Saturday 26 December), The Esplanade, The Butts and the outdoor market are all under water and Number One Riverside, the bus station and town centre tram stop are all surrounded.

The Roch in the town centre came very close to flooding two weeks ago:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/99814/river-roch-swollen-by-heavy-rain

Asked at the time to comment on concerns that the River Roch could flood in Rochdale town centre, the Council appeared to discount the imminent possibility. John Percival, Heritage Projects Manager at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “According to the Met Office, parts of the north west of England got more than 200% of the average rainfall in November. Despite that the River Roch did not burst its banks.

"We are continually monitoring the situation and, at the moment, the river channel has capacity to deal with the excess water.

"The project to re-open the river will significantly reduce flood risk in the town centre by helping us divert excess water back into the river channel as quickly as possible.”

UPDATE

A spokesman for Rochdale Borough Council said this evening: "People are blaming the river opening, however, the opening is not to blame, water escapes quicker now than it did before it was open. The river broke its banks behind Number One Riverside, before the bridge."