Tornado Aftermath: Repairs Continue 12 Months On

Roof repairs and the removal of fallen trees continue nearly a year following a tornado’s impact on two villages. The severe weather event, Storm Gerrit, brought winds reaching 160mph to Millbrook and Carrbrook in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, last year, resulting in damage to approximately 100 residences and the uprooting of numerous trees. Residents described it as a “miracle” that no injuries occurred. Twelve months on, the hillsides remain covered with downed trees, and certain damaged properties are yet to be fixed. Sue Goddard, a resident of Carrbrook residing beneath the Cowbury Reservoir, was in bed when the tornado hit, and recalls her house shaking before she descended to discover “devastation”. “Ridge tiles came through the glass roof in the kitchen,” she stated. “A chimney stack blew off my roof, my conservatory was damaged, the greenhouse ended up in pieces and I lost dozens of trees”. Ms Goddard noted that the restoration efforts had spanned several months, with further tasks remaining. “The insurance was very good. Work will start on removing fallen trees in the next few months,” she added. Joyce Bromley, proprietor of Hill Top Farm in Millbrook, where she stables 12 horses, reported that the tornado demolished a wooden stable block with the horses still inside, and that mending the roof of a stone barn had required nearly a year. She characterized the event as a “terrifying” experience. “The noise was was just so scary,” Ms Bromley recounted. “The wooden stable block was scattered across the field. All that was left was a concrete base.”It was incredible that no-one was injured and the animals were safe”. Inga Hulme, who maintains approximately 30 horses at Sun Green Farm in Millbrook, stated that she would never forget the incident. “It sounded like a train on the roof of the house, she explained. “A tree had gone through the bathroom window and the roof was severely damaged”. She mentioned that the necessary upkeep had spanned several months. “Trees were uprooted, which left huge holes in the fields, which isn’t safe for the horses, she added. “We’ve had to repair fencing and gates. Luckily, its all gone through the insurance”. Listeners can access top content from BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and connect with BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Additionally, story suggestions may be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or through Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.