FLOOD defences in Northwich town centre were ramped up overnight after a red flood warning put the town on high alert.
Rising water levels on the Weaver triggered phase two of the Northwich Town Centre Multi-Agency Emergency Flood plan on Monday, January 6.
As levels approached two metres on Monday afternoon, Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) announced the higher level defences were being put in place from around 4pm.
This involved closing London Road, near Waitrose, as flood barriers were installed on Dane Bridge and a diversion route was put in place.
As of 9.30am on Tuesday morning, London Road remained closed, though access for residents and businesses, including Waitrose, is possible.
The closure led to serious rush hour delays on Monday evening, leading one driver to call the town centre ‘the epicentre of hell’, adding it took her 40 minutes to drive one mile.
EA deploying phase two flood defences in Northwich town centre (Image: EA) Overnight water levels peaked at 2.18 metres at the Hayhurst Bridge at 2.15am on Tuesday, January 7, amid a red flood warning from the Environment Agency (EA), which this has since been downgraded.
Further red warnings for Weaverham, Action Bridge, and the Weaver Navigation at Winsford have also been downgraded, though a less severe amber flood warning for the Weaver catchment area is still in force.
At 8.15am on Tuesday, January 7, the river had fallen to 1.96 metres, and is expected to continue dropping, though with more overnight snow and rain, this still may change.
Cheshire West and Northwich town councillor for Leftwich, Rachel Waterman, visited EA workers on Monday evening at the defence deployment sites around the town centre and provided an update for residents on social media.
Flood defences on Dane Bridge, London Road, with pumping hoses visible (Image: Rachel Waterman) Cllr Waterman said: “I just went to see the EA team who are monitoring the flood defences to thank them for what they’re doing, and to find out what the latest information is.
“The river is high, but it hasn’t breached Dane bridge as of yet, and the team are hopeful that it has reached its peak.
“Phase two is clearly in play with the expectation being it will remain in situ until later in the day on Tuesday, January 7.
“However, this will depend on the weather and the amount of melted snow and rain coming down the rivers Dane and Weaver.
“The diversions in place mean that you will need to leave extra time for your journeys, especially around rush hour tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon.”
For for latest data and advice, visit the governments Check for Flooding Service website, or call the Flood Helpline on 0345 988 1188.