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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2015/dec/08/storm-desmond-west-coast-main-line-to-reopen-after-floods-live-updates
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| Storm Desmond: west coast mainline to reopen after floods – live updates | Storm Desmond: west coast mainline to reopen after floods – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.45am GMT11:45 | |
| Weather warning for more rain and wind | |
| The Met Office has issued a yellow ‘be prepared’ weather warning for more rain and wind in southern Scotland and north-west England on Wednesday and Thursday. | |
| The warning says: | |
| Further rainfall is expected to arrive across central and southern Scotland and northern England during the early hours of Wednesday before clearing to the southeast on Thursday. Some very strong winds are also likely in association with this system with gusts of 60 mph possible around exposed coasts and hills. This could prove a further hazard. Please be aware of the potential for further disruption from flooding and to transport. | |
| There remains considerable uncertainty around the locations to be most affected by this system but further heavy rainfall looks likely across central and southern Scotland and northwest England. | |
| 20-40 mm of rain is expected widely across high ground and there is a very low likelihood of locally seeing 80-100 mm over the highest ground of these areas. Were this to occur renewed flooding is possible given the saturated ground and volume of water running through the river network. Rainfall totals and further flooding of the level seen over the weekend are not expected. | |
| Southwesterly winds will increase on Wednesday morning across parts of northern England, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, with gales developing widely. The gales are expected to last through the afternoon and evening but should ease by the early hours of Thursday. | |
| 11.33am GMT11:33 | |
| Labour continues to the press the government on spending cuts to flood defences. | |
| Kerry McCarthy MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said: “I am pleased the Prime Minister has said the government will look again at whether they have spent enough on flood defences. But this isn’t good enough. | |
| “We need proper resources spent on flood defences, not the cuts we have seen over the last five years. This year alone the flood protection budget has been cut by £115 million. | |
| “It’s not fair on communities up down this country blighted by flooding for the government to cut first, and think later.” | |
| Updated at 11.34am GMT | |
| 11.30am GMT11:30 | |
| Mark Tran | |
| The Met Office considers whether there is a link between climate change and Storm Desmond. The verdict is that it is too early to arrive at a definitive conclusion, but the evidence points to such a link. | |
| Professor Dame Julia Slingo, Met Office chief scientist, says “It’s too early to say definitively whether climate change has made a contribution to the exceptional rainfall. We anticipated a wet, stormy start to winter in our three-month outlooks, associated with the strong El Niño and other factors. | |
| However, just as with the stormy winter of two years ago, all the evidence from fundamental physics, and our understanding of our weather systems, suggests there may be a link between climate change and record-breaking winter rainfall. Last month, we published a paper showing that for the same weather pattern, an extended period of extreme UK winter rainfall is now seven times more likely than in a world without human emissions of greenhouse gases. | |
| Updated at 11.34am GMT | |
| 11.25am GMT11:25 | |
| Josh Halliday has more from the recovery centre in Penrith | |
| Van-loads of supplies arriving here then being distributed across Cumbria #StormDesmond pic.twitter.com/5EuUByf0i3 | |
| #StormDesmond volunteers inundated with supplies but here's what they're missing (e.g. supplies for babies) pic.twitter.com/Co6hScOM4t | |
| One flood victim from Eamont Bridge just arrived here. He was devastated, utterly devastated. Offered counselling. pic.twitter.com/yLbfo1SAg8 | |
| 11.10am GMT11:10 | 11.10am GMT11:10 |
| The actor Steve Coogan has recounted how he was stranded in the Lake District after driving passed a landslide on the way to his “retreat” near Lake Coniston. | The actor Steve Coogan has recounted how he was stranded in the Lake District after driving passed a landslide on the way to his “retreat” near Lake Coniston. |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said he was forced to spend the night in his 4x4 vehicle with only his dog for company. | Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said he was forced to spend the night in his 4x4 vehicle with only his dog for company. |
| “I survived Bear Grylls-style on nuts and berries, but I’d bought them at Marks and Spencers,” he said. | “I survived Bear Grylls-style on nuts and berries, but I’d bought them at Marks and Spencers,” he said. |
| Updated at 11.13am GMT | Updated at 11.13am GMT |
| 11.00am GMT11:00 | 11.00am GMT11:00 |
| Network Rail has confirmed that it plans to reopen the west coast mainline north of Carlisle this afternoon, two days after it was under 8ft of floodwater. But it warned that speed restrictions would be imposed for safety reasons. | Network Rail has confirmed that it plans to reopen the west coast mainline north of Carlisle this afternoon, two days after it was under 8ft of floodwater. But it warned that speed restrictions would be imposed for safety reasons. |
| The company said engineers have been working around the clock to remove debris and mud from the railway. | The company said engineers have been working around the clock to remove debris and mud from the railway. |
| Spokeswoman Debbie Francis said: “Before trains are able to run normally, large amounts of signalling equipment – including safety-critical electrical cabinets – need to be replaced following extensive flood damage, and work will continue to take place over the coming days. | Spokeswoman Debbie Francis said: “Before trains are able to run normally, large amounts of signalling equipment – including safety-critical electrical cabinets – need to be replaced following extensive flood damage, and work will continue to take place over the coming days. |
| “Network Rail’s engineers have worked tirelessly to reopen the railway so soon after the floods, which means passengers can begin to make their normal journeys once more. However I would urge anyone planning to use the trains in the coming days to check before they travel with National Rail Enquiries or their train operator before for the latest information.” | “Network Rail’s engineers have worked tirelessly to reopen the railway so soon after the floods, which means passengers can begin to make their normal journeys once more. However I would urge anyone planning to use the trains in the coming days to check before they travel with National Rail Enquiries or their train operator before for the latest information.” |
| The Cumbrian coast line, between Carlisle and Workington, will remain closed after three landslides blocked the line. | The Cumbrian coast line, between Carlisle and Workington, will remain closed after three landslides blocked the line. |
| The orange army is pulling out all the stops ahead of the WCML reopening this afternoon. https://t.co/qnkmA4auKQ pic.twitter.com/hbE9Y0JJTp | |
| Updated at 11.27am GMT | |
| 10.49am GMT10:49 | 10.49am GMT10:49 |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| At the Penrith recovery centre there is frustration that much of the focus has been on the damage in Carlisle rather than in the badly hit rural communities, writes Josh Halliday. | At the Penrith recovery centre there is frustration that much of the focus has been on the damage in Carlisle rather than in the badly hit rural communities, writes Josh Halliday. |
| Kerryanne Wilde, 42, a serving Cumbria constabulary police officer who is lead coordinator of the massive volunteer operation, said victims in flood-hit hamlets around west Appleby – including Burrells, Colby and Hoff – felt abandoned. | Kerryanne Wilde, 42, a serving Cumbria constabulary police officer who is lead coordinator of the massive volunteer operation, said victims in flood-hit hamlets around west Appleby – including Burrells, Colby and Hoff – felt abandoned. |
| Wilde was one of the volunteers who took four van-loads of goods – including water, food, bedding and clothes – to the area on Monday night. | Wilde was one of the volunteers who took four van-loads of goods – including water, food, bedding and clothes – to the area on Monday night. |
| “The west side of Appleby they felt they had been completely ignored. They felt they had no support so they were really surprised when we turned up with our care packages last night. | “The west side of Appleby they felt they had been completely ignored. They felt they had no support so they were really surprised when we turned up with our care packages last night. |
| “All these rural communities have been so badly hit but some hadn’t seen anybody for days. When we arrived last night they were like a plague of locusts - they had no food, heating, nothing. | “All these rural communities have been so badly hit but some hadn’t seen anybody for days. When we arrived last night they were like a plague of locusts - they had no food, heating, nothing. |
| “They felt as if they’d been left alone. The sigh of relief you could see it on people’s faces - it was like ‘Oh my God, people from outside Appleby have come’. They actually thought that all the aid was going to Penrith then to Carlisle. They hadn’t been told they were going to get some of that. They’ve got no electricity, no food, no fuel. | “They felt as if they’d been left alone. The sigh of relief you could see it on people’s faces - it was like ‘Oh my God, people from outside Appleby have come’. They actually thought that all the aid was going to Penrith then to Carlisle. They hadn’t been told they were going to get some of that. They’ve got no electricity, no food, no fuel. |
| “Carlisle is really badly hit but it’s not the be all and end all. Carlisle is the main city in Cumbria but it will recover from this much quicker than the rural communities. If you speak to anybody in the west side of Appleby they will tell you the county council has not been there, the police haven’t been there,” she said, adding that only the fire service and mountain rescue had been there. | “Carlisle is really badly hit but it’s not the be all and end all. Carlisle is the main city in Cumbria but it will recover from this much quicker than the rural communities. If you speak to anybody in the west side of Appleby they will tell you the county council has not been there, the police haven’t been there,” she said, adding that only the fire service and mountain rescue had been there. |
| Updated at 11.10am GMT | Updated at 11.10am GMT |
| 10.43am GMT10:43 | 10.43am GMT10:43 |
| Bellwin scheme opened | Bellwin scheme opened |
| As promised, the government has opened the Bellwin scheme for local authorities affected by floods. | As promised, the government has opened the Bellwin scheme for local authorities affected by floods. |
| Under the scheme councils will be reimbursed by central funds for the costs of dealing with the floods. | Under the scheme councils will be reimbursed by central funds for the costs of dealing with the floods. |
| Confirming the move, the communities secretary, Greg Clark, said: | Confirming the move, the communities secretary, Greg Clark, said: |
| We’re determined to stand squarely behind affected communities for the long haul, to help them get back on their feet and into their homes as quickly as possible. | We’re determined to stand squarely behind affected communities for the long haul, to help them get back on their feet and into their homes as quickly as possible. |
| That’s why today we’re taking the first step on the road to recovery by offering support through the Bellwin scheme so councils starting the clean-up operation can be confident that they will get the support they need. | That’s why today we’re taking the first step on the road to recovery by offering support through the Bellwin scheme so councils starting the clean-up operation can be confident that they will get the support they need. |
| Updated at 10.47am GMT | Updated at 10.47am GMT |
| 10.32am GMT10:32 | 10.32am GMT10:32 |
| BBC Newcastle’s Anthony Day has video reports on the clean-up operation in the Northumberland town of Corbridge, where the River Tyne burst its banks over the weekend. | BBC Newcastle’s Anthony Day has video reports on the clean-up operation in the Northumberland town of Corbridge, where the River Tyne burst its banks over the weekend. |
| The scene in #Corbridge this morning as diggers restart the cleanup operation PT1/2 #StormDesmond @bbcnewcastle pic.twitter.com/iSYeD3GPYH | The scene in #Corbridge this morning as diggers restart the cleanup operation PT1/2 #StormDesmond @bbcnewcastle pic.twitter.com/iSYeD3GPYH |
| The scene in #Corbridge this morning as diggers restart the cleanup operation PT2/2 #StormDesmond @bbcnewcastle pic.twitter.com/vEL0jw5aJb | The scene in #Corbridge this morning as diggers restart the cleanup operation PT2/2 #StormDesmond @bbcnewcastle pic.twitter.com/vEL0jw5aJb |
| Updated at 10.33am GMT | Updated at 10.33am GMT |
| 10.19am GMT10:19 | 10.19am GMT10:19 |
| The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, has used the floods to take another pop at the government’s decision to ringfence the foreign aid budget. | The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, has used the floods to take another pop at the government’s decision to ringfence the foreign aid budget. |
| The government should divert some of the ballooning foreign aid budget to help those affected by #StormDesmond. | The government should divert some of the ballooning foreign aid budget to help those affected by #StormDesmond. |
| Updated at 10.24am GMT | Updated at 10.24am GMT |
| 10.16am GMT10:16 | 10.16am GMT10:16 |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| Liz Truss, the environment secretary, tried to see off a political row about the whether cuts to flood defence spending and poor projections about climate change were partly to blame for the scale of flooding in the north-west, writes Rowena Mason. | Liz Truss, the environment secretary, tried to see off a political row about the whether cuts to flood defence spending and poor projections about climate change were partly to blame for the scale of flooding in the north-west, writes Rowena Mason. |
| Speaking to Sky, she insisted that more would be spent on flood protection this parliament than under the coalition or under the last five years of the Labour government. | Speaking to Sky, she insisted that more would be spent on flood protection this parliament than under the coalition or under the last five years of the Labour government. |
| “It’s completely wrong [to say] that we are cutting flood defences. In fact, we are increasing real-terms spending on building our flood defences, we will be spending £2.3bn over the next six years, which represents a real-terms increase,” she said, claiming the floods were an “unprecedented event”. | “It’s completely wrong [to say] that we are cutting flood defences. In fact, we are increasing real-terms spending on building our flood defences, we will be spending £2.3bn over the next six years, which represents a real-terms increase,” she said, claiming the floods were an “unprecedented event”. |
| However, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has highlighted a £115m fall in spending on flood risk management this year compared to last year, when spending peaked following the floods of winter 2013/14. | However, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has highlighted a £115m fall in spending on flood risk management this year compared to last year, when spending peaked following the floods of winter 2013/14. |
| Truss also defended the current level of spending – £2.3bn over six years – when pressed by the BBC on whether this was enough given the almost £6bn the UK is spending on tackling the effects of climate change in poorer countries abroad over five years. | Truss also defended the current level of spending – £2.3bn over six years – when pressed by the BBC on whether this was enough given the almost £6bn the UK is spending on tackling the effects of climate change in poorer countries abroad over five years. |
| Related: Minister says flooding is 'unprecedented event' as she defends spending | Related: Minister says flooding is 'unprecedented event' as she defends spending |
| 9.42am GMT09:42 | 9.42am GMT09:42 |
| Here’s a reminder of the worst-hit areas: | Here’s a reminder of the worst-hit areas: |
| Updated at 9.44am GMT | Updated at 9.44am GMT |
| 9.41am GMT09:41 | 9.41am GMT09:41 |
| Here’s audio of the Environment Agency’s robo severe flood warning still in place for the River Wyre at St Michaels south, in Lancashire. | Here’s audio of the Environment Agency’s robo severe flood warning still in place for the River Wyre at St Michaels south, in Lancashire. |
| It says: “Collect things that you need in case of evacuation such as mobile phone, warm clothes and any prescription medicines. Stay in a high place with a means of escape. You may be evacuated from your home. Cooperate with the emergency services and call 999 if you are in immediate danger.” | It says: “Collect things that you need in case of evacuation such as mobile phone, warm clothes and any prescription medicines. Stay in a high place with a means of escape. You may be evacuated from your home. Cooperate with the emergency services and call 999 if you are in immediate danger.” |
| 9.01am GMT09:01 | 9.01am GMT09:01 |
| Electricity North West says its engineers have restored power to all but 2,525 properties in Lancaster and 1,514 in Cumbria. | Electricity North West says its engineers have restored power to all but 2,525 properties in Lancaster and 1,514 in Cumbria. |
| The company’s updates should be treated with a degree of caution after it tweeted too soon about the restoration of power to homes on Monday. | The company’s updates should be treated with a degree of caution after it tweeted too soon about the restoration of power to homes on Monday. |
| More than 40,000 homes were without power on Monday night after the company said it had restored power to almost all the homes in the region. | More than 40,000 homes were without power on Monday night after the company said it had restored power to almost all the homes in the region. |
| Updated at 9.11am GMT | Updated at 9.11am GMT |
| 8.53am GMT08:53 | 8.53am GMT08:53 |
| The environment secretary, Liz Truss, has conceded that government spending on flood defence may not be enough to protect people from extreme weather events. | The environment secretary, Liz Truss, has conceded that government spending on flood defence may not be enough to protect people from extreme weather events. |
| Interviewed on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said the government would review its projections about the frequency of the kind of flooding experienced over the weekend. | Interviewed on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said the government would review its projections about the frequency of the kind of flooding experienced over the weekend. |
| “We do need to look at the these extreme events and look at the modelling of how likely they are to happen,” she said. | “We do need to look at the these extreme events and look at the modelling of how likely they are to happen,” she said. |
| Truss was repeatedly challenged on whether the spending on flood defences was enough to protect people from the impact of climate change. | Truss was repeatedly challenged on whether the spending on flood defences was enough to protect people from the impact of climate change. |
| She said: “The government is investing £2.3bn over the lifetime of this parliament. For the first time ever we have got a six-year programme so people can plan ahead. | She said: “The government is investing £2.3bn over the lifetime of this parliament. For the first time ever we have got a six-year programme so people can plan ahead. |
| “This spending will reduce the risk of flooding over the next six years. What it can’t do is eliminate the risk … because inevitably we have projections but we see extreme events taking place.” | “This spending will reduce the risk of flooding over the next six years. What it can’t do is eliminate the risk … because inevitably we have projections but we see extreme events taking place.” |
| Asked about a call by the Association of British Insurers to spend a £1bn a year on flood defences, Truss said: “It is impossible to eliminate all risk, but what we are doing is trying to minimise that. | Asked about a call by the Association of British Insurers to spend a £1bn a year on flood defences, Truss said: “It is impossible to eliminate all risk, but what we are doing is trying to minimise that. |
| “We will indeed examine what more we can do to project the extreme weather conditions we’ve seen. | “We will indeed examine what more we can do to project the extreme weather conditions we’ve seen. |
| “In an environment where overall the government budget is reducing we are spending more on flood defences because it is a priority.” | “In an environment where overall the government budget is reducing we are spending more on flood defences because it is a priority.” |
| Speaking on a visit to flood-hit Carlisle, Truss said the government was working to help people as quickly as possible. She pointed out that river levels in Carlisle over the weekend were half a metre higher than ever seen before | Speaking on a visit to flood-hit Carlisle, Truss said the government was working to help people as quickly as possible. She pointed out that river levels in Carlisle over the weekend were half a metre higher than ever seen before |
| “The scale of this was absolutely extraordinary”, Truss said. | “The scale of this was absolutely extraordinary”, Truss said. |
| She added: “My priority is ensure that our emergency measures on the ground are working, that people are protected, that we get the power supply up and running as soon as possible and we get people back in their homes.” | She added: “My priority is ensure that our emergency measures on the ground are working, that people are protected, that we get the power supply up and running as soon as possible and we get people back in their homes.” |
| Truss said that as well as flood defences the government was looking at other measures to reduce the risk of flooding. | Truss said that as well as flood defences the government was looking at other measures to reduce the risk of flooding. |
| She said: “I completely agree that we also need to look at catchment wide solutions, upstream measures such as planting more trees ... We are committed to planting 11m trees over the course of this parliament.” | She said: “I completely agree that we also need to look at catchment wide solutions, upstream measures such as planting more trees ... We are committed to planting 11m trees over the course of this parliament.” |
| Updated at 9.32am GMT | Updated at 9.32am GMT |
| 8.13am GMT08:13 | 8.13am GMT08:13 |
| New drone footage from Helipromo shows the extent of the flooding. | New drone footage from Helipromo shows the extent of the flooding. |
| 8.08am GMT08:08 | 8.08am GMT08:08 |
| Helen Pidd | Helen Pidd |
| Medical supplies have been brought in by boat into one remote Lake District village cut off from the outside world after Storm Desmond hit, writes Helen Pidd. | Medical supplies have been brought in by boat into one remote Lake District village cut off from the outside world after Storm Desmond hit, writes Helen Pidd. |
| Access roads to Glenridding, on the southern shores of Ullswater, were destroyed in the storm on Saturday, with some sections of the A592 being subsumed by the lake and others made impassable by debris. | Access roads to Glenridding, on the southern shores of Ullswater, were destroyed in the storm on Saturday, with some sections of the A592 being subsumed by the lake and others made impassable by debris. |
| On Monday Mountain Rescue 4x4s managed to bring in two doctors to man the village surgery, while hundreds remained stuck in the shadow of Helvelyn. | On Monday Mountain Rescue 4x4s managed to bring in two doctors to man the village surgery, while hundreds remained stuck in the shadow of Helvelyn. |
| Mountaineer Alan Hinkes visited on Monday and reported back on Twitter: “It’s like a Tsunami hit Glenridding a lot work tday with big diggers etc & locals getn stuck in.” | Mountaineer Alan Hinkes visited on Monday and reported back on Twitter: “It’s like a Tsunami hit Glenridding a lot work tday with big diggers etc & locals getn stuck in.” |
| A591 Kendal to Keswick rd washed away N Dunmail Raise pic.twitter.com/AM6RdJfL42 | A591 Kendal to Keswick rd washed away N Dunmail Raise pic.twitter.com/AM6RdJfL42 |
| Andy Towler, temporary assistant chief constable of Cumbria police, said on Tuesday morning that the force was pushing in resource overnight. “A major effort is underway to link the valley back up and support those communities,” he said. | Andy Towler, temporary assistant chief constable of Cumbria police, said on Tuesday morning that the force was pushing in resource overnight. “A major effort is underway to link the valley back up and support those communities,” he said. |
| Dylan Jackson, a ranger from the Lake District National Park (LDNP), tweeted photos from the village showing the national park information centre inundated by rocks and rubble. | Dylan Jackson, a ranger from the Lake District National Park (LDNP), tweeted photos from the village showing the national park information centre inundated by rocks and rubble. |
| “Not good news for the LDNP, but not as devastating as it is to local business and home owners in Glenridding whose livelihoods are at stake,” he tweeted. | “Not good news for the LDNP, but not as devastating as it is to local business and home owners in Glenridding whose livelihoods are at stake,” he tweeted. |
| Finally help getting to Glenridding and Patterdale. Made it to Glenridding. This is the LDNP Info Centre pic.twitter.com/rZMp6nOZ4N | Finally help getting to Glenridding and Patterdale. Made it to Glenridding. This is the LDNP Info Centre pic.twitter.com/rZMp6nOZ4N |
| In the Inn on the Lake, a wedding party had been marooned since Saturday when the storm hit. Laura Boswell-Stones, a HR assistant from Plymouth, said her husband Sam had been holed up in the hotel all weekend, unable to leave, after attending his best friend’s nuptials. She’d managed to snatch a few conversations with him: “He said he was going to give up his bed because there were elderly people sleeping on the sofas in the lounge after the Best Western up the road was evacuated,” she said. | In the Inn on the Lake, a wedding party had been marooned since Saturday when the storm hit. Laura Boswell-Stones, a HR assistant from Plymouth, said her husband Sam had been holed up in the hotel all weekend, unable to leave, after attending his best friend’s nuptials. She’d managed to snatch a few conversations with him: “He said he was going to give up his bed because there were elderly people sleeping on the sofas in the lounge after the Best Western up the road was evacuated,” she said. |
| On Monday night she said she’d been told the army had arrived in Glenridding but that those stuck were unlikely to get out before the weekend. | On Monday night she said she’d been told the army had arrived in Glenridding but that those stuck were unlikely to get out before the weekend. |
| Photographer Mark Littlejohn managed to reach the area on foot, posting photos on Twitter of a tractor attempting to pass the flooded road. | Photographer Mark Littlejohn managed to reach the area on foot, posting photos on Twitter of a tractor attempting to pass the flooded road. |
| Trying to get to Glenridding isn't easy. Other folk still trying to get through and getting stuck pic.twitter.com/s5OTgYVrJw | Trying to get to Glenridding isn't easy. Other folk still trying to get through and getting stuck pic.twitter.com/s5OTgYVrJw |
| 7.52am GMT07:52 | 7.52am GMT07:52 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of the floods following record rainfall in Cumbria and Lancashire. | Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the aftermath of the floods following record rainfall in Cumbria and Lancashire. |
| Here’s a roundup of where things currently stand: | Here’s a roundup of where things currently stand: |
| Updated at 9.17am GMT | Updated at 9.17am GMT |