A major incident has been declared across the region
A resident wades through flooded waters in Wigan(Image: Ryan Jenkinson/Manchester Evening News)
Iceland and Home Bargains stores were submerged following a night of horrendous rain in Wigan. Images taken on New Year’s Day show roads and car parks heavily flooded after the torrential downpour on New Year’s Eve.
Following the flooding incident, a large emergency services presence was seen on Templeton Road in Platt Bridge, Wigan on Wednesday, January 1. Manchester Evening News reported how people were rescued from their homes nearby as roads were completely submerged in murky waters.
Pictures circling on social media also showed the inside of Iceland completely flooded. Local MP Lisa Nandy urged people to avoid the area and ‘fully cooperate’ with emergency services who were called out to rescue those trapped inside their homes.
The car park and front of the Iceland and Home Bargains store was completely under water, with flood water also rising near to the shop fronts along nearby Walthew Lane. Other pictures show people wading through the flooded streets as fire crews continued to coordinate their response and cars floating in the water.
Home Bargains and Iceland in Wigan are submerged following a night of heavy rain on New Year’s Eve(Image: Ryan Jenkinson/Manchester Evening News)
Posts from residents were shared across social media, as one person wrote: “Avoid coming through Platt Bridge at all cost!” Another said: “Omg can’t believe how bad it is in Platt Bridge. I’ve never seen it be so bad.”
Councillor Danny Fletcher posted on Facebook: “I’ve been out with some of our flood response officers today, and I’m aware of the areas in Ashton….and neighbouring towns like Platt Bridge, that are seriously affected by the flooding.
“In terms of any medium/long term solution, I’ve requested council planners get their heads together, with all necessary services like United Utilities, and get back to me with their thoughts. Devastating for those waking up New Year’s Day to this …and I’ll do all can to support.”
Cars are completely submerged following a night of heavy rain on New Year’s Eve(Image: Ryan Jenkinson/Manchester Evening News)
Electricity North West announced that those left without power in the WN4 postcode areas could head to The Coffee Shop on Garswood Street in Ashton-in-Makerfield for hot drinks and food amid the chaos. A major incident was declared on Wednesday, as emergency services were bombarded with calls about threats to life, stranded vehicles and damaged properties.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP), co-ordinating the response with the fire service, said that said that Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport and Wigan were the areas which had seen the greatest impact.
Elsewhere, in Ormskirk, residents woke up to a ‘nightmare’ on New Year’s Day after their properties flooded following a relentless night of rain. People living in Halsall Lane, Brighouse Close and Sanfield Close and surrounding areas in Ormskirk are dealing with the after effects of flooding caused by rising river levels today.