A gym owner has told of his heartbreak after his new gym was badly damaged by floods.
Rick Vere-Hoose had planned for Transform Hub, a gym in Meadow Mill, Stockport, to open on January 13. But his ‘dream’ project, which he has ploughed more than £100,000 into, has been left in limbo following the devastating New Year’s Day flood.
The River Tame, which runs the behind the mill, burst its bank in the early hours. Shocking pictures showed a scene of devastation, with cars under water and the building only being accessible by boat for a time.
At its highest, about eight feet of water surged into the premises. The water has now been removed from the gym, which is on the ground floor of the mill, but it has left mud on the floor.
Family, friends and gym staff have been mucking in to try and clean the site. Mr Vere-Hoose told the M.E.N.: “It’s just terrible. To see how far we have come, and just how much we have had to strip it back to bare bones. The majority of it has had to be ripped out.”
Cars parked outside Meadow Mill were left underwater
(Image: submitted)
He says he cannot be sure about the extent of damage to gym equipment which had been in the building, ready for opening, until the electricity is turned back on. The opening date for the gym is now unclear.
The project has been an ambition of Mr Vere-Hoose’s, after he decided on a change of career following two decades in the business world. He said: “It has been a dream of mine to open a gym for a good couple of years. I worked in corporate life for 20 years.”
But he is adamant that the flood will not put an end to his plans. He added: “It’s one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m heartbroken. But I have been saying to everyone, ‘it’s just a setback, we’ll get there’.”
The opening date has had to be pushed back
(Image: Rick Vere-Hoose)
The gym has been faced with the added problem of a lack of running water on site, with the pumps needed to transport water for the clean up operation not being available because the electricity has not been switched on yet. Mr Vere-Hoose appealed for any individuals or businesses who could help with an independent water supply to assist with the clean up operation to come forward.
“We just need to wash things down, and there’s just no way of doing it,” he said. More than 400 people living on the upper floors of the converted 19th century mill were evacuated by the emergency services following the flood. They have not yet been told when they will be able to move back in.
Mr Vere-Hoose can be contacted at rickverehoose@gmail.com