Elderly residents among those evacuated after flooding in parts of south Lancaster

The sheltered accommodation in Lentworth Drive was evacuated this morning, Wednesday, with residents taken to St Paul’s Parish Hall in Scotforth Road.

Police have confirmed that all residents are accounted for, safe and well and with representatives from the affected properties and police officers.

Officers have asked that concerned family members do not go to the scene but instead make contact with St Paul’s Hall.

The elderly residents were among around 50 people to be evacuated from their homes after two multi-storey residential properties and about 10 other domestic properties were affected by the rising water.

Fire crews have attended the scene, including two swift water rescue teams and a high volume pump, in a bid to reduce the water levels.

The crews are working alongside Lancashire Constabulary, Lancaster City Council, the Environment Agency and the Great Places Housing Group to assist people involved in the localised flooding.

No injuries have been reported at the incident.

The Environment Agency has put two flood warnings in place for Burrow Beck: one around Canterbury Avenue, Cranwell Avenue and Bowerham Road, and the second between Newlands Avenue, Lentworth Drive and Whinfell Drive.

A number of roads have been closed due to the floods, including Lentworth Drive, Claughton Drive and Whinfell Drive in Lancaster, Canterbury Avenue in Scotforth and the A683 in Farleton.

People are asked to avoid the area if possible and be cautious when travelling on the roads.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Four fire engines including two swift water rescue teams, the high volume pump and aerial support unit were called to assist at a flooding incident near burrow beck in Lancaster.

"Multiple properties have been affected by the flood waters and firefighters are assisting in moving any ground floor residents to safety, some of whom are being taken to a nearby rest centre set up by Lancaster City Council at St Paul's Church Hall, Scotforth. Crews are currently still in attendance."

Green councillor Gina Dowding expressed her concern, saying: "Immediately I am concerned for keeping our elderly residents in care homes safe and well safe, and of course there will be traffic disruption.

"Causes will need to be investigated properly and analytically. The local plan, passed last week, focuses massive new developments in south Lancaster. I raised concerns about the plans to concrete over nearly all the land between the university and Galgate."

And Lancaster MP Cat Smith said: “It’s been devastating for those affected by the flooding on Lentworth Drive today, some of whom are flooded for the second time in three years.

"I want to praise the efforts of the emergency services who were on the scene straight away, as well as the speedy response from local councils both Lancaster City Council and the county council.

"Questions now need to be asked about what went wrong to cause this incident. When we have those answers measures must be put in place to protect this close knit community and if we need to secure more funds from Government to make that happen I will continue to make the case.”

Lentworth Drive was among several areas of south Lancaster to flood in November 2017, and in November last year we reported how residents and flood action groups had expressed “concern and alarm” over the prospect of hundreds of planned new homes.