Sheffield residents praise taskforce over Peak District dam efforts
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Thousands of residents were evacuated from Whaley Bridge on Thursday after the dam wall at Toddbrook Reservoir became cracked and started to fall away following torrential rainfall.
A major operation involving a multi-agency taskforce consisting of the Environment Agency, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Canal River Trust, police, military and many others, has been ongoing in recent days to try and secure the damaged dam.
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Hide AdA high-volume pump from Aston Park fire station in Sheffield has been sent to help lower the water level so workers can make the dam safe, while an operational support officer has also been sent by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
The incident has also led to the railway line between Sheffield and Manchester to be closed.
A number of Star readers have now taken to Facebook to praise the taskforce for their efforts to re-stabilise the dam – and avert a potential collapse.
Angela Gunstone praised the “incredible skill” of an RAF Chinook helicopter pilot who dropped sandbags onto the dam wall in a bid to help keep it from breaching.
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Hide AdTony Brown added: “Amazing work by our British military as always.”
Kay Piearcey posted: “Well done to all the emergency services and military working to save these people’s homes.
“Let’s hope everyone can all go home soon and (a) disaster is averted.
“Reminds me of when Ulley (Reservoir) was at risk a few years ago and how close they were.”
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Hide AdPrime Minister Boris Johnson visited the scene on Friday and promised that the damaged reservoir would have a "major rebuild" as he met locals at nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre.
Describing the damage to the dam as "pretty scary", he said: "I was talking to one of the villagers from Whaley Bridge who said that he remembered something like this happening 50 years ago.
"We've had an exceptional weather event, we must make sure that this dam can cope with it in the future.
"That will mean a major rebuild, clearly."