Wakefield Council pledges 'ongoing support' to residents following Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis

After clearing up from Storm Ciara last week, Wakefield Council teams were then out across the district preparing for Storm Dennis which hit at the weekend.

Teams worked throughout the day and night responding to reports of fallen trees, some of which closed roads, and flooding reports.

Wakefield Council is continuing to support residents at Reid Park Avenue in Horbury Bridge who were badly affected by Storm Ciara.

Coun Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council, visited residents after the first storm and pledged the council’s ongoing support to help deal with the impact of Storm Dennis.

She was joined by Coun Maureen Cummings, Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Poverty and Coun Darren Byford, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Regeneration and also a ward councillor for Horbury and South Ossett.

Coun Jeffery said: “We saw for ourselves the impact that Storm Ciara had on Reid Park Avenue and the Horbury Bridge area and did everything we could to help minimise the impact of Storm Dennis.

"We ensured that teams were on the ground at Horbury Bridge all weekend manning the pumps to try and manage the excess water, along with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the Environment Agency.

“As we continue the recovery, staff will carry on supporting residents and we will provide as much help and advice as we can. Additionally we are looking to make financial support available to those that need it.”

Coun Byford said: “Our business support team have met with a number of flood effected businesses in the Horbury Bridge area after Storm Ciara to offer support and advice and to ensure they are prepared for any additional adverse weather.

“The council has secured an emergency fund to help businesses trade again and we are working with them to access this. Our priority is to get businesses up and running as soon as possible.

"Beyond this, we are already in discussion with the City Region to seek a fund to support businesses to be more resilient in the future.”

If your business was affected by the flooding from Storm Dennis or Ciara, please contact Wakefield First on 01924 306 498 or email [email protected]