Whaley Bridge dam: Police criticise households for ‘putting lives at risk’ by refusing to evacuate endangered town

Sixteen households have been criticised for “putting lives at risk” by refusing to leave the town of Whaley Bridge over the potential collapse of the dam at Toddbrook reservoir.

A senior police officer warned there would be “catastrophic” consequences if the dam collapsed while people were in the evacuation zone in the Derbyshire town.

Firefighters have said crews need at least two more days to pump enough water from the reservoir to prevent its dam bursting and flooding the area.

Twenty-two people, including some who were initially evacuated but have since returned to their homes, remained in 16 properties in the town on Monday morning.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann has accused residents who refuse to evacuate of endangering the lives of emergency staff who have to ensure their safety.

“We’ve still got 16 households with 22 people within them – no children,” Ms Swann told Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday morning.

“That number is obviously coming down because we continue to engage with them on a daily basis, pointing out the risk to their lives and pointing out the risk to the lives of responders who need to go in and speak to them.”

She added that police were “looking at all options” for removing the people and said she felt there was “no support” for them from other residents who have left the town.

“We’ve not evacuated for no reason,” Ms Swann added. “We’ve evacuated this town because there is a real prospect that the dam could fail, and if it fails it is catastrophic.

“People would die if they were in that evacuation zone. So those people who remain in that zone are putting their lives at risk.”

At a residents meeting last night, Ms Swann reiterated that people could die if the dam broke while they were in the evacuation zone.

In response to a question from a resident who said he had been burgled, the officer said the force was using a drone to patrol the streets.

Julie Sharman, chief operating officer for the reservoir’s owners, the Canal and River Trust, also attended the meeting and rejected a suggestion they had failed to maintain the dam, saying the trust was subject to “the most stringent regulation”.

Although thunderstorms were forecast for Sunday night, posing a threat to the dam, they fortunately did not materialise.

The UK’s Environmental Agency has kept a severe flood warning in force for the Goyt river at Whaley Bridge, while the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has urged residents in the town to leave their homes.

“Having to leave home because of the risk of flooding is very distressing but it’s most important to stay safe,” Defra said in a statement. “When flood warnings are issued, follow emergency services’ advice.”

Six rescue boats have been deployed in the region in case the dam bursts.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn travelled to the area on Monday to meet residents and emergency workers, following a visit by Boris Johnson on Friday.

Derbyshire chief fire officer Terry McDermott said specialist engineers have monitored the dam wall 24 hours a day with lasers and are reassured by their assessment.

He added that a seven-day estimate for how long people would be out of their homes was a “worst-case scenario”.

Both Ms Swann and Mr McDermott praised the majority of residents in the area and the community spirit, which the fire chief said was “humbling”.

Agencies contributed to this report