In October, Cromwell Avenue in Callands flooded and the water came extremely close to Jackie Gilmore’s home on Colwyn Close.
Fortunately, the floodwater didn’t reach her property, but at this point, she went out to buy bricks so that when the road flooded again, she would be able to lift her furniture.
This is because in January 2021, she lost ‘everything’ in Storm Christoph.
So on New Year’s Day, when the 66-year-old find out Cromwell Avenue was flooded, she put all of her furniture on bricks.
Outside of Jackie’s home (Image: Supplied)
Although this did save some of her furniture, the downstairs of her home is now completely destroyed.
Jackie had to evacuate on Wednesday and stay at her son’s property for the evening.
But as Jackie has a dog and her son’s home is rental, she has no choice but to just live upstairs in her ‘ruined’ home.
Jackie told the Warrington Guardian how following the floods in 2021, affected residents were told that flood defences and plans were put in place.
But nothing has come of this, and her home has flooded again.
“We are just constantly fobbed off all of the time,” Jackie said.
“I am not in this to get new furniture or new flooring, I just want to get back in my home.
“It is going to be horrendous living upstairs for the next couple of months.”
Jackie feels ‘trapped’ in her home as the reoccurring floods mean that nobody wants to buy it.
Outside of Jackie’s home (Image: Supplied)
“It has devalued the house, its not as though I can even sell and leave because nobody wants to buy it,” she explained.
“I am absolutely trapped.
“If I could sell this house I would go in a heartbeat because this is going to keep happening.
“It was so bad here on Wednesday and its not just me.
“I am quite fortunate, I can live upstairs, I’ve got power this time, I’ve got my gas.
“There’s a couple over the road with three children under five.
“Mental health wise, I just really can’t tell you, I can’t even put it into words.
“If I cry, I just won’t be able to stop.”
Jackie’s furniture on bricks (Image: Supplied)
Jackie said that her and other residents asked the council for sandbags when Cromwell Avenue was flooding, before the water reached them. But they were told they could only have sandbags once the water was inside the property.
Jackie said: “I can’t quite figure out how that works.
“It is just an interesting concept that once the water is in, you can then have sandbags to stop the water.
“It is like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.”
On New Year’s Day, residents contacted the Environment Agency to tell them that Cromwell Avenue was flooded. But the agency said that they were not aware, despite flood warnings and alerts being in place for the area.
Residents also rang the Highways Agency to ask them to close Cromwell Avenue as people were still driving through it which was pushing water further towards the properties.
But they were told the agency does not cover this road.
READ MORE > Cromwell Avenue in Callands closed following flooding
“Nobody wants to help,” Jackie added.
The Warrington Guardian asked the council why sandbags were not readily available for residents.
Chief executive Steven Broomhead responded: “The council’s emergency number for out of hours, 443322, is available 24 hours a day, and handled calls before and during the flooding event to provide advice and support.
“Sandbags were distributed to as many properties as possible before the flooding but there was understandably a high demand.
“Our approach in response to the flooding was to prioritise those where there was a risk to life or where residents needed specialist support.
“We are very sorry that residents will be enduring an incredibly difficult time.”