Cross Hills flood warning remains as praise for flood defences

Although a flood warning remains for the River Aire at Cross Hills, those at Cottingley and Shipley and the Amber Warning for rain across the district have now been lifted.

Officers from Bradford Council were out since the early hours of yesterday morning working with partners from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Police and residents and volunteers.

The five Community Emergency Groups, set up at flooding hotspots across the district, in the wake of the Boxing Day Floods in 2015, put in place flood defences from 6.30am yesterday, connecting with and reassuring residents, as well as monitoring river levels and reporting back flooding issues in their areas allowing the Council to focus resources to where they were needed the most.

Flooding at Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club yesterday

Flood affected areas included the fields at the Bradford and Bingley Sports Club, from where Telegraph & Argus Camera Club member Mark McGlinchey sent the following two pictures:

Other affected areas included Castlefields in Bingley, Cottingley, as well as at Apperley Bridge in the car park of the George and Dragon pub, where the road was temporarily closed.

Firefighters from Bingley Fire Station were out pumping flood water from the River Aire away from houses on Castlefield Lane, Bingley, until 10pm on Thursday.

A spokesman from Bingley Fire Station said: “We were pumping until the river level dropped and the houses were safe.

"There are a few cottages there but there was no need to evacuate them because the water didn’t get into their houses.

“They has called us yesterday to say the water was going up to their doorsteps.”

There was a power outage in Haworth which affected around 1,800 properties yesterday morning. Power was restored to all properties affected by this during the morning.

Council also carried out welfare checks on vulnerable and elderly residents throughout the day offering reassurance and practical support.

The River Aire at Roberts Park, Saltaire, yesterday

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council leader, praised those who helped during yesterday’s flooding.

She said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of council officers, partners, volunteers and residents especially the Community Emergency Groups, for all they have done to put in place flood defence measures in communities across the district and for their resilience during the last few days.

2021 has got off to a challenging start but I’m grateful how everyone pulled together to protect communities