This week’s council meeting was heavily centred on the devastating floods that recently impacted the entire borough, with Cheadle West and Gatley severely affected. Extraordinary rainfall, combined with unprecedented river levels, created a crisis that overwhelmed the borough’s infrastructure, leading to severe consequences.

The scale of destruction was significant. There was extensive flooding, a bridge was destroyed, 22 roads were forced to close, and a gantry on Merseyway suffered extensive damage. These events highlight the critical need to understand the underlying causes and ensure the community is better protected in the future.

Residents of Cheadle and Gatley, along with their council representatives, are demanding answers. During the meeting, Councillor Hunter emphasised the importance of considering contributions from all relevant agencies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the floods. They also called for a review of instances where agencies had failed to implement recommendations. The council received a firm commitment to this collaborative approach. For more details on the specific questions raised, please refer to the link provided below.

Looking ahead, a senior council officer is scheduled to attend the next area committee meeting on 27 January to address some of the pressing questions from both residents and councillors. In addition, a preliminary report on the floods will be made available by the end of the month, offering an initial analysis of the events and paving the way for more detailed investigations and actions.

The council remains committed to working with all stakeholders to mitigate future risks and provide the community with the answers and support it needs during this challenging time.

https://stockport.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/943