The Dagnan family weren’t the only ones in Bishop Auckland to be affected by last week’s torrential downpour, with customers in the town’s leisure centre having to be rapidly evacuated.
Quick thinking staff at Durham County Council’s Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre led more than 30 customers to safety and helped the Fire Service isolate electricity and gas supplies, when three feet of filthy water flooded out the building’s pump room.
Sport and Leisure Area Manager, Nigel Dodds, is praising the rapid response of the centre’s staff, “It was
only minutes from the cloud burst to the centre manager realising the potential danger the rapidly rising water posed. All customers were lead to safety and the building was made safe. It was a real life test which staff passed with flying colours, following procedures in an extremely professional manner.”
There is particular admiration for centre manager Natalie Curgenven, who watched as her car was swallowed by the sewage-contaminated water while she spear-headed the evacuation.
“Natalie’s car is almost certainly a write off, but thanks to her absolute dedication no one was in any danger and the building was made safe,” said Sport and Leisure’s Andrew Francome, “The centre lies at the bottom of a hill and within minutes the car park was flooded and the pump room was under several feet of contaminated water. There was no panic, which was all credit to Natalie who is an absolute professional.”
The clean-up operation is now underway. The flood water was dispersed, but it left a thick layer of filthy sludge which was removed in a thorough cleansing process. The water did not contaminate any public areas and the fitness suite and pool were reopened after health and safety checks were completed.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
