04 January 2024 , 23:04
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People living in homes devastated by the tornado which ripped through Stalybridge last week have criticised the council following the aftermath of a spontaneous weather event. The tornado reached excessive winds of 160mph and was the strongest to hit the UK in almost two decades, ensuring havoc on almost 100 homes in the Carrbrook area of town.
Cars and streets were damaged, and amid the rubble, resident Gareth Moody identifies the remnant tiles, debris and structure fragments littered across his house' upper floor.
Gareth, a council licensing offer at Manchester Council, was one of those whose home was badly hit just before midnight on December 27. Yet he says Tameside Council has "massively let him down" with help provided since. He said: “The council has offered no assistance or help.
Gareth lives in Hough Hill Road and believes he and other affected households had to "notify and urge" the council for a Section 78 (Manchester Evening News)“Our home has made national and international headlines but where is our support from the local authority? We have had little to no contact with them [the council]. I feel massively let down and angry.”
Gareth said he had to "notify and urge" the council for a Section 78 Building Act 1984 [where a building is considered to be dangerous and instigates immediate action to obviate danger] to be served because of safety concerns regarding an overhanging roof.
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Gareth says: "We had to urge and notify the council for a Section 78 because the danger to locals was immense - and we were told we’d be liable for it. Local councillors turned up very late to the mayhem and could not provide definite answers to our questions about safety and actions needed to be taken. As soon as daylight came we should have had inspectors out for a safety exclusion zone.”
In response, Tameside council said that by the following evening (December 28), all the properties deemed dangerous were secured with high fencing and that 75 staff were brought into Stalybridge who had spoken "directly to residents about the issuing of section 77 and 78 dangerous building act notices".
Damage inside Gareth Moody's home (Manchester Evening News)
Gareth, his wife Lyndsey and their children were in their home when the chaos erupted (Manchester Evening News)But 45-year-old Gareth says he had to pay for a cherry picker to remove the overhanging roof and the placement of a skip outside his home. Neighbours said the skip “should have been placed immediately by the council” to help with falling debris, pieces of slate, roof tiles, rubble and bricks strewn across the street.
“This isn’t an incident that was anyone’s fault but in terms of authority and assistance there has been nothing and virtually no contact," Gareth claimed. "There should have been conversations on ‘what can we do to offer and how to help’ and guidance on what we needed to do.
“All we’ve been told is what we can’t do. My home has been ripped apart - advise me on the next steps away from this mess."
Gareth, his wife Lyndsey and their children were in their home when the chaos erupted (Manchester Evening News)Gareth, his wife Lyndsey and their children were in their home when the chaos erupted. Their sons, Jack, 22. and Thomas, 15, narrowly escaped disaster as the tornado tore through their house. Daughter, Rebecca Saycell, 20, and husband Thomas, 27, were in their bedroom in the basement.
Thomas added: “With the council's regards they have gone about this the wrong way. We just needed a bit of guidance on how to make sure the public was safe from the area and advice to get the ball rolling on rebuilding the homes.”
Gareth showed the MEN the temporary covering hastily installed to mitigate exposure to weather, but it still needs a long and extensive repair to restore the home.
Gareth's temporary bedroom (Manchester Evening News)“It is only through the help of family, friends, neighbours and businesses that we have achieved in five days to make the property safe. We are in the process of devastation and starting to rebuild our lives and I can’t thank TD Scaffolding, Northern Tool, Barty’s Food Bank, Tony Meredith Skips, and Howarth Timber enough for their rallying support," he said.
“I’m also eternally grateful for the help from the wider public, people's generosity has been unreal - but the local authority has massively let us down.”
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Tenants were reportedly only notified after the fence surrounding the most severe properties was put up. It would cost them £50 per panel per day, however it is still in place despite building control since deeming the homes safe.
Damage inside Gareth Moody's home (Manchester Evening News)
Damage inside Gareth Moody's home (Manchester Evening News)Neighbour Rachel McLeod said: “Nobody has helped next door, they’ve done the clear up themselves. All we’ve been told was that a barrier needed to go up and we’d be charged for it. It’s not great.”
However, the council told the Manchester Evening News that "no person has been charged or advised they will be charged for high fencing" as it was provided it as part of the authority's emergency response. It said fencing would be collected back in "as and when appropriate".
Despite the challenges following the tornado, residents have taken matters into their own hands as part of a huge cleanup plan. The council says street teams prioritised debris and fallen trees along the public highways and visited Hough Hill to deal with the cleanup, as with all other areas affected.
If weather conditions continue, more families will be stranded (Manchester Evening News)Local resident Matthew Marsland said: “I thought it was just a force of wind but when I stepped out I did a triple take when I saw the streets and houses, you're thinking is, is anyone dead?"
However, Matthew said he has been let down by the response. "The council has failed us miserably," he claimed.
"It was their chance to shine with preparedness and contingency plans - such as dropping a skip off for residents on the first day. I don’t want to be over-animated but I’m really angry and appalled by the lack of response.
Matthew Marsland (Manchester Evening News)“Pensioners who might have little mobility still have debris and fence panels on their properties. In terms of this event, you would imagine there’s a handbook and subsection on how to help, activate or deal with this situation.
"There was no contingency plan. If weather conditions like this continue, many more families will be left stranded like those here.”
The homes on Hough Hill Road in the town were part of 100 buildings to be affected, with chimneys and roof tiles brought down, as well as uprooting trees. Cars were smashed by falling debris, and a piece of slate even became lodged into one vehicle. Miraculously, no injuries were reported despite the ferocity of the tempest.
Images from Hough Hill Rd Stalybridge following last weeks devastating tornado (Manchester Evening News)On Sunday (December 31), Tameside Council said 89 dangerous building act notices had been issued. As of Saturday, 32 households were 'unable to return to their homes until works are complete and their properties deemed safe'.
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “In all emergency situations such as this, the council’s priority is to protect people. We make sure they are safe and not homeless and ensure any dangerous buildings are secure with no risk to the public.
“What was registered as a T5 tornado, occurred in Stalybridge on the late evening of Wednesday 27 December 2023. This was declared as a major incident and blue light services provided the initial emergency response. Fortunately with no casualties, the response was stood down from a major incident and the following morning a council building control officer began to assess the damage on what was nearly 100 properties.
The Hough Hill homeowners were made verbally aware of their notice on the Thursday evening (Manchester Evening News)"We were pleased that all properties were inspected by that same evening with all properties that were dangerous being secured with high fencing. No person has been charged or advised they will be charged for high fencing, the council provided this as part of our emergency response and will collect fencing back in as and when appropriate.
“Street teams prioritised debris and fallen trees along our public highways ensuring they were safe and accessible before dealing with debris within fenced off areas. Street teams visited Hough Hill to deal with clean up as with all other areas affected.
“The Council has brought in around 75 staff over the holidays to deal with the incident and we are proud of the speed and dedication of our officers and contractors. We have spoken directly to residents about the issuing of section 77 and 78 dangerous building act notices. As buildings were assessed our control room were made aware of properties to be issued with notices for anyone calling in.
Damage inside Gareth Moody's home (Manchester Evening News)"The Hough Hill homeowners were made verbally aware of their notice on the Thursday evening upon initial inspection and a notice was emailed and/or hand delivered, as all notices were on the Saturday.
“We have currently issued a total of 89 Dangerous Building Act notices and originally advised 32 households they cannot return to their home until works are carried out to ensure they are safe. In all instances, households have been advised to contact their building insurers and mortgage providers who can provide further advice and where necessary for those who cannot reside in their homes, temporary accommodation.
“Liability for repairing homes sits with homeowners building insurers and we have been supporting residents to get the necessary help from their insurers.
“Staff have appreciated the positive response from a large number of residents and will continue to provide any further advice needed. We are writing to residents this week as a courtesy follow up and our Emergency Call Centre is available on 0161 342 2222 for emergency out of hours calls. Our call centre is available on 0161 342 8355 for anyone who needs any advice and support.”