breezy morning greeted our fantastic runners and volunteers this week at Whaley Bridge junior parkrun for event number 383 with some speedy performances and lots of smiles all around A huge welcome to the 4 first-timers joining us this week - we hope you enjoyed your first taste of junior parkrun and that we'll see you again soon Don't forget to tell all your friends about the fun you had who ran his last-ever junior parkrun with us today which means he's graduating from our junior event We want to thank him for his fantastic participation over the years and wish him a very happy birthday We hope to see him back volunteering in the future who finished with a fantastic time of 7:59 It was clearly a good day for running as we also had 8 runners who set new PBs as well So well done to all our runners; everyone of you should be proud of your achievement junior parkrun wouldn't be possible without our amazing team of volunteers A massive thank you to all the hi-vis heroes who made this week's event happen From the timekeepers and barcode scanners to the marshals cheering everyone on around the course your dedication and enthusiasm are what make our event so special please do get in touch – we'd love to have you on the team Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out So come along next week and join us for another dose of junior parkrun fun © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times is one of the lovely volunteers on the team who regularly gives their time at our Whaley Bridge store A regular visitor to check out the new stock arriving in store little did Linda realise that she would one day be part of the team ‘Me and my friend Margaret used to come into the shop on a Tuesday afternoon to do some shopping and have a look around the new stock ‘Margaret started volunteering at the store first and they needed someone to help upstairs.’ The hospice shop in Whaley Bridge is by far the largest so much so that it spans two floors and has various departments featuring a dedicated children’s section offering toys and clothes and a large women’s clothing section ‘I didn’t volunteer straight away but came in regularly to see Margaret and Marie Brown still plays a vital role volunteering in the store for one morning and two afternoons a week but I will help out downstairs whenever needed  – It doesn’t really matter to me as both are enjoyable.’ When not manning the till on the first floor in the ladies’ clothes department or taking sales downstairs Linda lends a hand wherever it is needed from sorting through donations to putting new items out for sale After leaving school Linda worked in an office and after starting her family worked jobs that fitted around caring for her children Later she helped her daughter who worked as a child minder ‘I would help her with that,’ explained Linda She says volunteering has helped her in lots of ways ‘I would definitely recommend volunteering to anyone who is interested in getting involved ‘I used to be quite a shy type of person and I didn’t particularly make good conversation or mix well I have gradually over time got used to talking to all sorts of people I can’t imagine what I would have been doing with my time ‘It is one of the highlights of the week.’ Find out more about the wide range of volunteering opportunities available here! who represents Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook on Derbyshire County Council took to social media at the weekend to take a swipe at both Labour and its High Peak MP Jon Pearce – a role she held between 2017-2019.  “Not a single concern has been raised with me by the Party about my 5 years as councillor when I have sought to do my best for the whole community for the many individuals in need who seek my help “It has been falsely alleged that I am “not supportive” of the current MP - who in spite of my efforts to do so has refused to work or campaign with me and has supported one of his staff members to become the Labour candidate for Whaley Bridge & Blackbrook “I am deeply saddened that the Labour Party - which I joined at age 18 and have dedicated 37 years of my life to working hard for and representing - decided to support bullying behaviour instead of the inclusive teamwork and solidarity I have always valued in our party.  “I will continue to be the county councillor for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook until the May elections and will do my best for everyone while considering my options.  “I’ve loved being the county councillor for my home area supporting the wonderful people and organisations that make up our lovely community to try and achieve the best for our area.”  Labour rebuffed Cllr George’s claims with a spokesperson for the party saying: “We have robust due diligence processes in place to make sure everyone selected to stand for the Labour Party is of the highest calibre “We do not comment on the selection process for individuals.”  It is understood that MPs don’t play a role in selecting local election candidates.  a strong ally of Jeremy Corbyn during his tenure as Labour leader was forced to apologise in 2019 after she suggested it was “possible” that seven of the party’s former MPs - who defected after experiencing antisemitic abuse - were being supported by the Israeli state.  the then-MP for Liverpool Waverley who was an ex-Director of the Labour Friends of Israel of which Jon Pearce is the current parliamentary chair.  Other senior figures in the party have rallied to support the decision to remove Cllr George including the National Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement Lord Katz: “"It is only right that Labour has blocked Ruth George from being a council candidate given her woeful track record on antisemitism under Corbyn.    “The Labour Party has changed under Keir Starmer; voters in High Peak can be assured that - whoever or wherever they are - we will only put forward candidates for election who are fit for public office.”  A spokesperson for the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region added: “We welcome the decision by the Labour Party to select a new candidate to stand in the forthcoming elections in Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook.   “Outgoing Cllr Ruth George will be remembered by those who fought against antisemitism in the Labour Party as someone who had to apologise for voicing a conspiracy theory suggesting people leaving the party over anti-Jewish racism were possibly funded by Israel.   she at best turned a blind eye or at worst actively supported colleagues in her CLP [Constituency Labour Party] alleged to have made appalling antisemitic comments.    “As the Labour Party continues to repair the damage done under its previous leadership it is right and proper that the best candidates for the role are put forward whether that be locally or nationally.”  Despite a slightly driech start to Sunday, we welcomed 29 junior parkrunners to Whaley Bridge this week and were lucky that the rain kept off until much later in the day. It was great to see a couple of new faces this week (Ruby and Amelia) and 3 of you (Eddy, Harry and Ralph) managed new PBs. Well done all of you. This week's full results are here One of our finish tokens (#15) has gone missing - we think it might have gone home with finisher #15 by mistake but we don't know who you are Please check your pockets as we'd love to secure its safe return before Sunday It's always a pleasure to award milestone writstbands James and Olivia recieved marathon wristbands Thanks as aways to our volunteers this week: Anna PRITCHARD Our event can't happen without you and your support is much appreciated Check out https://www.parkrun.org.uk/whaleybridge-juniors/volunteer/ if you'd like to get involved FB message or talk to the core team on event day residents are home in the Peak District town which was evacuated last Thursday amid fears that the Toddbrook reservoir could burst its dam following torrential rainfall Residents and business owners were allowed back home on Wednesday cafes and pubs are set to reopen by the weekend They actively want people to come and visit Read moreMy husband lived in Whaley when we were first courting so I know it well drunk in most of the pubs and eaten far too many cakes at the Bakehouse is my very subjective guide to Whaley Bridge Read moreOff-road, there are great trails by Erwood and Fernliee reservoirs, which lead towards Buxton or over to Kinder Scout. If you are a cycling masochist, check out the cobbled climb up Start Lane from the Kettleshulme direction. Whaley is also blessed with an excellent independent bike shop: the Bike Factory There are lots of lovely walks right from Whaley Bridge for even the littlest legs The graveyard at Taxal church is often visited by a friendly donkey who always appreciates a carrot or an apple Head through the woods towards the derelict Taxal Lodge on the magnificently named Linglongs Road and see if you can spot the fairy tree where superstitious locals have left gifts for the elves A women-only solidarity bike ride to Whaley Bridge – to eat at the Bridge Bakehouse – starts from Deli No 29 in Romiley at 9am on Saturday 10 August Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips Railway engineers are reaching the final phase of a major project to improve passenger journeys and safety for road users through Whaley Bridge in the High Peak Network Rail has invested £5.1m to overhaul the Victorian-built Buxton Road railway bridge which takes the Buxton line over the main road through the town The essential upgrade has seen the structure carrying the railway completely rebuilt and a third of the original Grade II listed bridge span retained Buxton Road has been entirely closed to traffic since January Ahead of it reopening this Friday (31 March) today (Wednesday 29 March) Network Rail thanked motorists local people and businesses for their patience said: “March has been truly transformative for Buxton Road bridge – it started with trains running safely for passengers over the new structure and ends with us being able to reveal the restoration work and painting complete on the retained 160-year-old steelwork “It means we can reopen Buxton Road to traffic again from this Friday with traffic lights in place while the team safely makes finishing touches to the remaining masonry and steelwork throughout April I’d like to thank local people once again for their patience and understanding and hope they are as impressed with the restored bridge as we are.” The three-month project also saw a full railway closure for a new concrete bridge deck to be lifted into place Now several weeks of grit blasting and repainting of the remaining original 160-year-old structure is complete during Friday daytime the road below will partially reopen Traffic lights will allow road users to pass safely under the bridge while finishing touches to masonry and the historic steelwork are completed throughout April can travel underneath the structure with public transport arrangements returning to normal.  By the end of the month both lanes of Buxton Road are expected to fully reopen Network Rail has worked closely with High Peak Borough Council and Historic England to make sure the work is carried out in consideration of the 1863 built bridge's heritage status.  one footway will always remain open underneath the bridge for pedestrians There will be a couple of occasions where for short periods of around six hours overnight that the road will need to be fully closed so engineers can move scaffolding and install any remaining signage prior to the road fully opening to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Engineers battle to shore up Peak District reservoir after 1,000 residents evacuated An RAF Chinook helicopter is dropping off 400 tonnes of aggregate to help shore up a reservoir at risk of collapse More than a thousand residents of Whaley Bridge, on the edge of the Peak District, had to leave their homes on Thursday in a mass evacuation Many have been told they may not be able to return for several days after damage to the dam wall of Toddbrook reservoir which sits high above the town and contains about 1.3m tonnes of water Engineers have been pumping water out of the reservoir after part of a dam wall collapsed following extreme rainfall They have managed to reduce water levels by 200mm aided by a mostly dry night in the Goyt valley which runs from Buxton to Whaley through to Stockport The helicopter was sent from RAF Odiham in Hampshire to assist at the reservoir He told PA Media: “It will drop one-tonne bags of aggregate – a mixture of sand This is intended to stem the flow of water into the reservoir.” The helicopter was also being used to shore up the damaged face of the dam on Friday the chief operating officer of the Canal and River Trust Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about the chances of the dam bursting Sharman said: “We’re in a critical situation here on site There’s a lot of work going on now dropping these gravel bags in to protect the dam We’re still at risk and obviously are taking a precautionary approach as we want to maintain public safety “The operation loading the front face of the dam with the Chinook helicopter is still in progress It’s going to go on for most of the day here The good news is that inflows into the reservoir have reduced considerably and we’ve lowered the level of the water by 200mm.” she warned it was not a quick operation and would take longer than a day the assistant chief constable of Derbyshire police said: “The public has been absolutely fantastic Our officers have explained the situation to them and the residents have taken that advice And they’ve been directed to alternative accommodation Engineers pumping water from the reservoir Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images“It’s been very distressing and difficult for the local residents to leave their homes We want them to get back to their homes as quickly as possible but we can only do that when it’s safe to do so Mehmet said police would help residents return when it was safe “We’ll do everything we can to support all the residents We’ll be absolutely more than happy and more than willing to ensure they get back into their homes safely,” he told Radio 4 Whaley Bridge is in a steep-sided valley and many houses are above the reservoir water line but flood experts fear at least 400 properties could be at direct risk were the dam to burst Most residents evacuated on Thursday spent the night with friends or relatives Care home residents were found places at alternative accommodation and some of those with nowhere to go were put up at the Palace hotel in Buxton including the residents of Cromford Court sheltered accommodation which is 250 metres from the police cordon stopping vehicles coming in and out of the town “By 11pm most of us were all back – the council told us it was fine I dropped off at maybe 1am and then at 4.45am I was woken up by the sound of the helicopter,” she said The RAF helicopter prepares for repair work on Friday morning Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesBarnes was anxious that her asthma medication runs out on Saturday would probably remain shut for the foreseeable future “I can’t drive so I can’t get out and I am worried about my medication,” she said She had spent most of Thursday afternoon at Chapel-en-le-Frith high school which had been turned into a respite centre Watching BBC News on the canteen television she reflected on the extreme weather of the previous week “I just can’t contemplate that this time last week we were sweltering in 34C heat,” she said leaving in such a rush he did not have time to put any socks on He was set to spend the night in the Palace hotel – “I was looking forward to it I was going to have a good breakfast too” – before residents were told they could return home Unfortunately there are vagabonds around and we are quite vulnerable I was worried about looters but everything was fine I drove up and down a few times and it was all quiet.” He had enough food to keep him going for a few days and planned to sit out the drama in his flat until the roads reopen to let him go to the shops I really thought it was going to happen – they wouldn’t have evacuated so many people if they didn’t think it was serious But now that they are relieving the pressure from the dam by reducing the water I am feeling a bit calmer.” A police roadblock near the reservoir All roads into Whaley Bridge town centre are closed and trains are not stopping there Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesAll roads remain closed into Whaley Bridge town centre and no trains are stopping there or continuing through to Buxton Trains are also unable to serve stations between Strines Chinley and Sheffield and stations between Middlewood and Buxton “We don’t have a firm estimate of how long this incident will last; however the emergency services are advising that the line could remain closed until Sunday 4 August,” said National Rail Enquiries Effort to stop 1.2m tonnes of water flooding town began with one man desperately trying to lower the water level Last Thursday, as water rushed over the dam wall holding back the Toddbrook reservoir a lone Canal & River Trust employee fought against the deluge desperately trying to lower the water level Heavy rain had led to an excess of water cascading over the spillway above the town of Whaley Bridge in the Peak District but as the torrent continued the spillway started to erode and concrete ballasts began to rip away said he arrived at the dam at midday to find the employee who has not been named “desperately trying to reduce the levels by opening the valves He was running up and down the reservoir with a rake clearing debris and adjusting and tracking the valves but there was just so much water coming over the top it began to wash away the clay wall.” As it became apparent that 1.2m tonnes of water could engulf schools who has a direct view of the dam from his home raised the alarm and police officers and firefighters raced to the reservoir Engineers were soon on the scene and Toddbrook sailing club quickly became a temporary command centre. Drone footage was examined and just a few hours after the leaks were spotted, thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes On Monday – speaking four days after the evacuation – Gavin Tomlinson 1:31RAF helicopter joins effort to stop Derbyshire dam collapse – videoHe said: “On Thursday night it very nearly went It was leaking and we were in a situation where we had five times as much water going in than we could take out As residents were evacuated an RAF Chinook helicopter was drafted in and began to drop hundreds of bags of sand and aggregate to shore up the slipped pieces of concrete Since then seven tonnes of water a minute have been pumped out of the structure drastically lowering the threat of flooding across the valley down towards the towns and villages of the High Peak highlighting the point in the sluice channel where the water had to be let out With only one pump available in those first crucial hours rescue workers had to scramble to get dozens more a local civil engineering company hurriedly built a temporary road around the reservoir so they could move the pumps from the dam’s north to the south Work continues to shore up the dam Photograph: Danny Lawson/PAThe Chinook dropped more than 1,000 sandbags and 600 bags of aggregate to plug the hole then concrete was poured in to seal the gap Once the water levels had begun to drop divers were sent in to place steel tubes directing water into the channel allowing workers to pump out about 700,000 tonnes of water in four days Boat crews were sent in to clear debris and weeds clogging up the pipes and as water levels continued to fall workers built floating platforms to take pumps further into the reservoir Tomlinson said the reservoir level was now five metres below normal and workers would continue to pump out water until it fell eight metres allowing for engineers to inspect the damage It is understood it could take up to a year for the dam to be fully repaired and locals have begun to question whether it was properly maintained Tomlinson and their teams are breathing a sigh of relief “We have worked every hour since it started and only today have we started to feel like we are over the worst of it,” Tomlinson said We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports New Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers today visited Whaley Bridge where she met with emergency response teams working around the clock to fix a breach at Toddbrook Reservoir Measures include the use of RAF Chinook to drop over 400 sandbags, and the use of pumps to remove excess water from the reservoir - levels continue to fall as the operation to pump away water continues, with a current reduction of 1.3 metres. The Secretary of State then visited the Rest Centre at Chapel-en-le-Frith school, which is being used as a community hub, where she met with residents who have been evacuated from their homes. About 1500 people were evacuated, but were allowed to return home today for a short period of time in order to collect essential belongings and pets. Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: My thoughts are with the people who have had to leave their homes. Having spoken today to some of those evacuated I know how difficult this situation is for them and I pay tribute to their patience and fortitude. It’s been wonderful to see the community support and spirit in Whaley Bridge. I want to thank all emergency services, military personnel, Environment Agency and volunteers for their continued hard work. I am confident that everything that can be done is being done and I’ve seen a reassuring amount of progress today. Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd said: Visiting Whaley Bridge today it was amazing to see the pure dedication of the teams at work here. Not just those in the Environment Agency - of whom I am immensely proud – but the numerous other organisations that are working tirelessly to keep the community safe. Real progress has been made, and after seeing our pumps and the RAF Chinooks at work today I am confident we are doing all we can to lower the water levels and secure the dam. All teams on site continue to work to ensure the structural integrity of the dam and a progress update will be made in due course. The Environment Agency continue to monitor the flood risk closely. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. a look at how the town escaped possible disaster.","thumbnailUrl":["https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1920x1080/p07k0crx.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1232x1232/p07k0crx.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p07k0crx.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/400xn/p07k0crx.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-08-07T15:38:46.000Z","duration":"PT2M15S","embedUrl":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av-embeds/49263477"}Whaley Bridge dam repair: How events unfoldedThis video can not be played CloseResidents in Whaley Bridge are returning home after almost a week away The Toddbrook Reservoir dam wall was damaged on Thursday 1 August following a night of intense rainfall It prompted 1,500 people to be evacuated from their homes in the Derbyshire town amid work to drain the reservoir and shore up the dam Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreWhaley Bridge: A catastrophe avoided 00:02:15Whaley Bridge: A catastrophe avoided 2:15Up Next Whaley Bridge was '50% chance of catastrophe' Video 00:02:31Whaley Bridge was '50% chance of catastrophe' 2:31Whaley Bridge's new road in drone footage 00:00:38Whaley Bridge's new road in drone footage 0:38Repair work continues at Whaley Bridge dam 00:00:31Repair work continues at Whaley Bridge dam 0:31'I flew over the dam and it looks pretty scary' Video 00:00:32'I flew over the dam and it looks pretty scary' 0:32Editor's recommendationsMerz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe' Video 00:01:05Merz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe' 1:05Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election Work to restore Toddbrook Reservoir has entered a “major construction phase” with works by contractor Kier on the new spillway “well underway” but the completion date has slipped back according to the Canal & River Trust The reservoir in the High Peak area of Derbyshire almost suffered catastrophic collapse of its auxiliary spillway in August 2019, which would have unleashed a destructive flood on the town of Whaley Bridge just below it This was averted by quick action from the Environment Agency and dam owner the Canal & River Trust has been working on a £15M project to build new infrastructure at the reservoir in recent years to make it more resilient and modern The Trust worked with Arup to design the new infrastructure, which includes a new side channel weir, spillway, tumble bay, stilling basin and more. Kier has been on site since 2022 and over the last year it has excavated the route of the new spillway channel and installed hundreds of piles along the 220m route from the top of the dam to the bottom of the embankment which will take excess water from the reservoir down past the new Memorial Park This work has started at the bottom of the structure and is working its way back up to the top of the dam where it meets the tumble bay at the side of the reservoir Piling for the turrets and spillway channel The turrets at the bottom of the spillway prevent vortexing to help slow and channel the flow of water in extreme storm events When main construction of the spillway is complete they will be sandblasted with artwork as part of a community art project by artist Tom Edwards (We are Culla) The main reservoir restoration work will now be complete in summer 2025 whereas the Canal & River Trust had previously targeted the end of 2024 This has been caused by “prolonged wet weather and difficult ground conditions [that] have both proved challenging” according to Canal & River Trust Toddbrook project manager Dilwyn Parry “Thankfully future works are mainly above ground so it may be possible to make up lost time,” he added Work will then start on the “extensive” landscaping to bring the reservoir and new Memorial Park into public use which means the “entire project is likely to be finished around autumn 2025” He continued: “We are expecting the reservoir to refill naturally over the winter of 2025/26 and then hopefully be available again for public sailing angling and other recreational activities from spring 2026.” work will take place to build a new sailing club as the old one had to be demolished to make way for the new infrastructure There will be a pair of public open days for people to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the ongoing construction on 19 and 20 July. The tours will take place in one hour slots between 10am and 3pm on those days. More information can be found here Progress on new tumble bay and side channel weir Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Tagged with: The government should introduce a National Water Grid so water can be… which shows the difference between the… Work on the A417 Missing Link scheme in Gloucestershire is progressing steadily,… A major refurbishment of Dunball Sluice near Bridgwater has been completed or ‘extreme weather event’ as we call them now I was trying to get into the Derbyshire town of Whaley Bridge which sits below a reservoir with a crack in its dam wall The reservoir had topped over during the night and the build-up of pressure meant the wall was beginning to crumble Fifteen hundred people in the town have been evacuated since the storm with hardly even the time to pick up their keys They have sought shelter in schoolhalls and with friends and acquaintances in nearby towns and villages The world’s media quickly descended on the town and before journalists could even scribble down ‘closely-knit communities’ the newly-installed Prime Minister Boris Johnson was parachuted in He had a ride over the dam in a helicopter and visited bemused Whaley Bridge refugees in a Chapel school gymnasium urging them to carry on demonstrating the good old Brexit spirit that had won us two world wars Already a subscriber? Log in Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in 1,100 evacuees can return to Derbyshire town Around 1,100 residents of a Derbyshire town have been allowed to return home almost a week after they were evacuated when a nearby dam threatened to collapse Parts of Whaley Bridge were evacuated on Thursday last week after heavy rain damaged the dam at Toddbrook reservoir The deputy chief constable of Derbyshire police said the decision had been taken because the immediate danger posed to Whaley Bridge and the areas downstream in the Goyt valley had now passed She said: “The hard work and dedication to achieve this has been quite simply incredible and means that I am now able to lift the evacuation order placed on Whaley Bridge and the surrounding area “At the forefront of our thoughts are the communities affected by this incident who have been steadfast in the face of the peril that lay behind that dam wall The danger posed by the millions of tonnes of water which would have destroyed homes and livelihoods A bookshop re-opens Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The GuardianThough heavy rain is forecast for the next few days Swann said experts from the Environment Agency (EA) were confident that the reservoir would cope She stressed that the dam was not yet fixed but said a 24-hour pumping operation had reduced water levels to below the damaged section “Over the coming days and weeks further work will be completed to ascertain the damage caused to the dam wall and what actions are required for the future We must not forget that the dam is broken,” she said “The Environment Agency has confirmed that the measures remaining in place at the dam will be able to manage the levels of rain forecasted and confirmation of the effectiveness of the work to repair the damage done and reduce the water coming into the reservoir I am able to confirm it is safe for people to go back to their homes.” said: “The Toddbrook dam requires significant engineering works to bring it to a condition where its long-term safety can be assured The Environment Agency expect the Canal and River Trust to do the necessary investigations and engineering work to make the dam safe and protect the community.” residents will be allowed to return on Wednesday with the help of police or partner agencies if necessary The vast majority of people had sought sanctuary with friends or family living on higher ground Derbyshire police said there would be a visible police presence in and around the area for the next seven days to help the community and address any concerns They thanked residents for their patience with the emergency operation Inspection work continues on the dam Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian“The resolve kindness and generosity to their fellow residents friends and family shown in the face of such danger has been extraordinary,” said Swann “That same kindness was given to the hundreds of multi-agency workers at the dam whose sole focus has been to ensure the resolution to this unprecedented crisis.” The train line between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly had reopened but trains were still not stopping at Whaley Bridge following the suspension of the line between Hazel Grove and Buxton including the southern entrance to Whaley Bridge on the A5004 Buxton Road just north of the junction of Macclesfield Road and Chapel Road A multi-agency hub will open later on Wednesday at Whaley Bridge primary school for residents and businesses staffed by representatives from High Peak borough council A Derbyshire farmer arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder has been bailed has been questioned by police following a fatal shooting in Whaley Bridge on 1st May.   police officers found a man with fatal gunshot wounds He has now been formally identified as Marcus Smith was found with a gunshot wound nearby in the same road but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening who was then arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder has now been bailed as the investigation continues Derbyshire Police confirmed that three men who have been arrested in connection with the burglary have also been bailed The officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses and information on the incident If you have any information that can assist the investigation, you can contact the incident room directly here.    You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website Mr Lomas’ son, Joshua, has set up online fundraising to support the family “through this difficult time” The money is set to be used by the farmer’s family to fund the cost of legal fees Organiser Joshua Lomas said: “We are raising much needed funds to support our family and my father “Rob has the most steadfast loyalty you could ever wish for in a father and friend and has always been there for me but always makes time for a brew and a friendly humorous chat Rob encountered intruders inside his property having had a burglary the night prior also Kate (his partner) and I now need help in the coming weeks That’s why we need your kind and extremely valuable help “Please donate anything you are able to – every pound is hugely appreciated.” According to the UK government guideline, permission to possess purchase or acquire a firearm will only be granted to an individual who is assessed by the licensing authority as not posing a threat to public safety and having good reason to own the firearm Organisations such as target shooting clubs museums and firearms dealers must also apply for licences if they wish to possess or use firearms Persons who are sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three years or more cannot possess a firearm or ammunition (including antique firearms) at any time The police are the licensing authority for firearm and shotgun certificates The conditions of a firearm or shotgun certificate stipulate that guns must be stored securely so as to prevent access by an unauthorised person Any concerns in regards to a firearm owner should be reported to your local police force Read more rural crime news Business and Rural news from the UK’s favourite monthly farming magazine We’ve now moved to our new office in Stowmarket If you wish to contact us please use our new address: I always wanted to be a journalist and I recall during my degree having experience in TV online and newspapers but when I experienced the speed of radio To be able to react to something so fast and speak to people so one-on-one so personally is what I love the most Last Thursday night I’d gone out for tea with my daughter only to see the heavens open with rain like I’ve never seen before I even filmed it and put it onto my Twitter and Instagram as I couldn’t believe how fast it was coming down It was only just after that I heard about the residents being evacuated in Whaley Bridge which isn’t too far from where I live As I turned on the news I couldn’t believe what I was seeing I wasn’t surprised to receive a call from my station editor after 9pm that night to say I would be doing the Breakfast show live from a family home in Chapel-en-le-Frith just up the road from Whaley Bridge The Goodwin family had offered to take people in who’d had to be evacuated from their homes Knowing the house is only 20 minutes from mine but also knowing the recent weather and road closures I decided to leave much earlier than I would normally But I didn’t quite expect the journey I encountered I got all the way to Disley to be told the road was closed so I had to turn back and go about 20 miles out of the way to then join the A555 which was also partially closed due to flooding I came off the A555 at Poynton to go all the way to Bollington over the tops to Pot Shrigley before finally being able to get through Whaley Bridge to the broadcast location I did miss the start of the show and arrived about 10 minutes later as my colleague Mark had stayed on air He handed to me and I did the first link with my handbag still around my neck The family were all sharing the house because of the flooding at Whaley Bridge Bev Goodwin lives there with her two children – Harry and Megan She gave shelter to her two parents Steve and Joy; and also to two friends Angela and Susie All of them had been evacuated from Whaley Bridge because of the immediate threat to life posed by the dam which threatened to collapse Bev’s home is a mile up the road from the exclusion zone It’s always amazing being invited into somebody’s home when they’ve never met you before but the warmth and goodwill they showed was clear to see They were standing in borrowed pyjamas and not knowing if they would ever see their home or any of their belongings again was a huge thing to witness And then seeing the Chinook helicopter going backwards and forwards and hearing the whirring of the engines was just amazing while watching all of it live on BBC News from the lounge room On that lounge room wall was a sign that read “Always look on the bright side of life” which I thought was significant in this moment - especially watching Bev hug her children on the sofa I hugged the family as I left and I hoped more than anything this disaster could be averted and they would find some normality I was grateful they allowed me to share that moment with them and in turn we as listeners could share it with them too Listen to Chelsea's Breakfast show with the Goodwin family here This blog explains what the BBC does and how it works We link to some other blogs and online spaces inside and outside the corporation The blog is edited by Alastair Smith and Matt Seel Stay updated with the latest posts from the blog Catch-up on announcements & blogs, plus TV, radio & online highlights. 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