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Morpeth and Rothbury were the two main areas of the county affected by the heavy rainfall early last week.
In Morpeth pedestrians, including children and parents walking to and from schools in the area, have been warned against using Chantry Bridge, which is currently closed to the public.
At the present time the bridge, which was damaged when the river level rose, is unsafe to cross and work is being carried out by engineers before it can reopen.
Pedestrians are being directed to use the adjoining Telford Bridge or alternatively cross via Carlisle Park and the Elliot Footbridge. As more people will be using these routes, pedestrians are advised to take extra care, especially if negotiating road traffic on Telford Bridge.
Communal skips have been provided by the county council in which residents in Morpeth can place water damaged goods. The skips have been placed in the High Stanners and Mitford Road areas of Morpeth for use by residents to dispose of flood damaged household goods and furniture.
The county council is stressing that residents must check that they have the go-ahead from their insurance company before they dispose of items.
Electrical and electronic items cannot be placed in the skips but these will be collected free of charge from flood affected properties by the council’s bulky waste collection services.
If residents wish to dispose of waste items themselves, the Morpeth Household Waste Recovery Centre is open seven days a week from 8am to 7.30pm (6pm after 1 November).
To request help disposing of goods, to book a bulky waste collection for electrical items or to report that skips are full, residents should phone the council’s customer services team on 0845 600 6400.
The council’s customer services team is also available to help with queries concerning council tax payments for flood affected properties, offer advice to any businesses suffering flood damage and provide information about road closures; Westnewton Bridge B6351 at Kirknewton is currently closed due to flood damage.
A flood recovery group has been set up by the county council. Partners, including Northumbria Police, The Environment Agency, Morpeth Flood Action Group, Morpeth Town Council, The British Red Cross and Morpeth Lions, attended the first meeting yesterday (Monday 1 October) to make sure the effects of the flooding could be quantified and dealt with.
Sue Milner, director of public health and protection for Northumberland County Council, said: “This group has been set up to coordinate the provision of a full-range of practical assistance and support to those directly or indirectly affected by flooding last week or on previous occasions. We aim to help give the communities affected easy access to the assistance they require.”
A number of voluntary organisations and charities helped during the floods and provided support at rest centres, which opened in Rothbury and Morpeth.
For advice about financial and practical help as well as emotional support residents in Rothbury and Morpeth may also wish to contact the following numbers:
Rothbury - British Red Cross - phone: 07623912340
Morpeth – Morpeth Town Hall - visit in person or phone: 01670 514314.
Residents in other areas of Northumberland who may have been affected by localised flooding should contact the county council on 0845 600 6400 if they require help or advice.
Should anyone who has been affected by the floods feel unwell, the advice is to contact their GP as soon as possible.
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