Ulverston: businesses and properties flooded after heavy rain

Up to 15 properties flooded after heavier-than-expected rainfall and debris accumulation early Monday morning (October 28). 

There was flooding on streets including Watery Lane, King Street and Springfield Road

The Mill, on Mill Street, announced it would be closed for at least one day while the staff dried out the pub and restored electricity. 

Dragley Beck turned into a raging torrent the morning after the rainfall (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

Marian Sumpton, a 77-year-old resident who lives near North Lonsdale road, said: “It’s completely flooded all along Steel Street. I can only look out the window – last night there was green grass, today it’s just a reservoir.” 

The flood marker on Dragley Beck indicated five feet of water hours after peak high tide and the end of the heavy overnight rain.

The flood marker on Dragley Beck was indicating five feet of water hours after peak high tide and the end of the heavy overnight rain (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye) Bringing water from Pennington Reservoir and beyond in the fells, Dragley Beck flows through Ulverston to Outcast, where it meets the tide at Canal Foot.

On Monday morning, most of the fields between Sandside Road and Steel Street were underwater with a particularly deep section only being held back by a brick flood wall. 

Debris left on the footpath next to Dragley Beck (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye) Town Beck, which meets Dragley Beck near the top of Sandside Road, was identified as a particular issue by the Environment Agency.

A spokesperson said: “We understand that a number of properties in Ulverston have been impacted by flooding caused by a build-up of debris in Town Beck. We know the devastation that flooding can cause. Our sympathies always go out to those whose homes and businesses are flooded.”

The water was inches deep on West End Lane, with many cars and a Royal Mail van turning around (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye) The spokesperson added that the teams had been working ‘diligently since the early hours of the morning to clear as much debris as possible from the grids.’ 

Four locations in Ulverston received flood warnings in response to rainfall levels that the agency said were ‘higher than forecast.’ 

The flood water behind the wall on Steel Street (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye) Mark Westall, operations manager at Lancaster Brewery, which manages The Mill, said that the flooding had ‘happened before’ in the pub. 

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“But the damage in the surrounding streets is worse than usually happens,” he added. 

The field had turned into a ‘reservoir’ (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye) Andrew Butcher, another resident who lives in south Ulverston and a former councillor, said there is ‘building, building, building on land you should never build on.’ 

“Every time it rains people are getting worried. I just worry there has been building on and near flood plains.” Both Mr Butcher and Ms Sumpton alleged that the drains are not being cleared enough. 

The road network outside of Ulverston was disrupted overnight by some flooding on the A590 near Thwaite Flat and for much of Monday Duddon Bridge on the A595 was closed due to the river bursting its banks.