First Residents return to their properties since the floods

Exactly three weeks to the day and hour since they were evacuated during the recent devastating floods that swept through parts of Cumbria, three households in Keswick were welcomed back to their refurbished properties by Derwent & Solway Housing Association (D&S), a member of Harvest Housing Group on Thursday 10 December at 2pm.

The unprecedented timescale was due to a combination of proactive measures by D&S, tireless work by the emergency services and around the clock efforts by all staff since the day of the floods. Residents saw water levels rise to over half a metre on St Kentigern Close during the floods, causing significant damage to their homes, including household furniture, personal belongings and electrics. D&S provided temporary accommodation for the residents but they were both delighted and surprised to receive the news that they are allowed back into their own homes in time for Christmas.

Commenting, resident Ella Lloyd said:

“I am so pleased to be able to go back home, especially at this time of the year. I cannot believe that it has only take three weeks to repair all the damage that was done. Derwent & Solway Housing Association have been fantastic and everyone worked so hard to make sure we were safe and well when the floods came. ”

The homes have been fully redecorated with fixtures, fittings and electrics being replaced. Advanced drying systems have also been used by the housing association with some exceptional results. The properties were also affected by flooding in 2005 and remedial and preventative work meant that damage, although devastating, was kept to a minimum.

Commenting, Director of Derwent & Solway Housing Association, Robert Porter, Said:

“Many lessons were learned in 2005 and we worked hard with our contractors PPM to establish the main work required to prevent similar damage in the future. This,
combined with gaining access to properties as soon as possible after the floods to clear them of items to start the drying process, is one of the reasons why we were able to have our residents back in their homes in Keswick so quickly this time. Our singular focus since the day of the floods has been the wellbeing and welfare of our residents.”