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Flooded dog park farm reopens after 'overwhelming' community donations | |
(3 days later) | |
Co-owner of the farm, Sarah Reilly said she is thankful to the community for their support | Co-owner of the farm, Sarah Reilly said she is thankful to the community for their support |
A dog park and farm which was destroyed by flooding on New Year's Day has been able to reopen thanks to thousands raised from community donations. | A dog park and farm which was destroyed by flooding on New Year's Day has been able to reopen thanks to thousands raised from community donations. |
Sarah Reilly and her co-owners bought farmland in Urmston, Trafford just over a year ago, converting it into a dog park, café and farm but severe flooding caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage. | Sarah Reilly and her co-owners bought farmland in Urmston, Trafford just over a year ago, converting it into a dog park, café and farm but severe flooding caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage. |
Four weeks later, Barrowfield Dog Park is back open for business thanks to generosity from the community but the owners said they were still seeking answers over the flooding. | Four weeks later, Barrowfield Dog Park is back open for business thanks to generosity from the community but the owners said they were still seeking answers over the flooding. |
Ms Reilly said she was "overwhelmed" by the support and felt "incredibly lucky" to reopen but mistakes had been made and "somebody needs to be held accountable". | Ms Reilly said she was "overwhelmed" by the support and felt "incredibly lucky" to reopen but mistakes had been made and "somebody needs to be held accountable". |
The Environment Agency (EA) said it was investigating what went wrong in the area after the nearby River Mersey burst its banks on New Year's Day. | The Environment Agency (EA) said it was investigating what went wrong in the area after the nearby River Mersey burst its banks on New Year's Day. |
Greater Manchester Police had declared a major incident on 1 January over flooding in parts of Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. | Greater Manchester Police had declared a major incident on 1 January over flooding in parts of Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. |
Farm machinery and the coffee hut were among a catalogue of items that had to be replaced following flooding at the site, Ms Reilly said | Farm machinery and the coffee hut were among a catalogue of items that had to be replaced following flooding at the site, Ms Reilly said |
An EA spokesperson said evidence showed flood defences had "performed as they should during flooding near Urmston". | An EA spokesperson said evidence showed flood defences had "performed as they should during flooding near Urmston". |
However, the watchdog said if its review showed there was a need to adjust thresholds there would be changes made to the flood warning service "to give people vital time to prepare in advance". | However, the watchdog said if its review showed there was a need to adjust thresholds there would be changes made to the flood warning service "to give people vital time to prepare in advance". |
Ms Reilly said she and her team had never seen anything like it before. | Ms Reilly said she and her team had never seen anything like it before. |
"We were just astounded of the speed that the water came in, the sheer volume of water," she said. | "We were just astounded of the speed that the water came in, the sheer volume of water," she said. |
"People who have lived round here for years and years have never seen flooding like it". | "People who have lived round here for years and years have never seen flooding like it". |
Ms Reilly says she has never seen flooding like it before in the area | Ms Reilly says she has never seen flooding like it before in the area |
Her co-owner Kevin Connolly said they had experienced flooding before as the business was built on a flood plain but they felt they were given no warning ahead of the deluge on 1 January. | Her co-owner Kevin Connolly said they had experienced flooding before as the business was built on a flood plain but they felt they were given no warning ahead of the deluge on 1 January. |
He said the business lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in farming machinery, equipment, and animal feed. | He said the business lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in farming machinery, equipment, and animal feed. |
Despite this, the business has managed to open thanks to an online fundraiser which has raised £5,000, and they also had donations from local businesses. | Despite this, the business has managed to open thanks to an online fundraiser which has raised £5,000, and they also had donations from local businesses. |
Janet Smith who brings her dog to the park said it was a "lovely area, a great atmosphere". | Janet Smith who brings her dog to the park said it was a "lovely area, a great atmosphere". |
"When the weather gets better we will be back here supporting the business, and bringing our friends with the dogs and the horses and supporting our local community," she added. | "When the weather gets better we will be back here supporting the business, and bringing our friends with the dogs and the horses and supporting our local community," she added. |
Dog walkers have been back at the park now it has reopened | Dog walkers have been back at the park now it has reopened |
Ms Reilly added that the farm would not be open again if it was not for the community. | Ms Reilly added that the farm would not be open again if it was not for the community. |
"We have just been incredibly lucky and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of support we have received," she added. | "We have just been incredibly lucky and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of support we have received," she added. |
"If it wasn't for our community, our friends, our family, our suppliers, we simply wouldn't be able to be back where we are today". | "If it wasn't for our community, our friends, our family, our suppliers, we simply wouldn't be able to be back where we are today". |
The EA said it always carried out a review after flood warnings were issued to see if improvements were needed for the future. | The EA said it always carried out a review after flood warnings were issued to see if improvements were needed for the future. |
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