1st August 2019, the earthwork retaining wall of Toddbrook reservoir started to leak. Cracks appeared, and a crisis soon loomed, threatening a dam burst which would sweep away large parts of the village of Whaley Bridge above which the reservoir looms. A state of emergency was declared, the village evacuated, and the emergency services and helicopters from the armed forces were drafted in to shore up the dam, whilst at the same time the contents of the reservoir were pumped out into the river Goyt.  News of the crisis made the International news, and after a few weeks the disaster was narrowly averted.  Repair works are ongoing, but will take several years to complete.  In these pictures, taken with the P2, you will see the emergency shoring up which was dropped into the breach by helicopter, until such time as a permanent solution can be effected.

Great images.  No doubt would have been a crisis if the dam burst.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 12-19 05:28
Great images.  No doubt would have been a crisis if the dam burst.

The news headlines were full of daily updates for weeks. There's an estate of newly-built houses directly below the dam, which would have been swept away had it burst. Crazy place to build, in my view.  It was a frantic effort by all involved, not only to shore up the crumbling wall, but to pump out enough water to relieve the pressure on the ancient earthwork.  The river Goyt at that point, into which the water was drained, is about 5 Kms upstream from where we are.  The roar of the torrent running off down the gorge was tremendous, but that's about 40 metres below our place so it was never in danger.

Have they not fixed that yet?

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 00:58
Have they not fixed that yet?

It will be a long time before it is finished - the reservoir has been emptied to assess the level of damage:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/a ... e9dJaoaAlRuEALw_wcB

Blériot53 Posted at 12-20 01:04
It will be a long time before it is finished - the reservoir has been emptied to assess the level of damage:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/north-west/restoring-toddbrook-reservoir?gclid=Cj0KCQiAifz-BRDjARIsAEElyGLnK5Zeugc-Jh9aMHF-qIZ8MeeocU4lwQLFfjmErsoaVaEOPe9dJaoaAlRuEALw_wcB

Wow,  that really does look empty.

Well done, Blériot53. Thanks for sharing this with us.

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 02:19
Wow,  that really does look empty.

Yeah the work will take a long time to complete.

DJI Gamora Posted at 12-20 02:44
Well done, Blériot53. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Thanks DJI Gamora.  It was a disaster narrowly averted at the time.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-20 02:50
Yeah the work will take a long time to complete.

So did you get moved up to Tier 4 as well as us down here?

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 02:58
So did you get moved up to Tier 4 as well as us down here?

Tier 3 for us.  You guys are really in it down there. Commiserations.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-20 03:02
Tier 3 for us.  You guys are really in it down there. Commiserations.

Im a few miles outside of Basildon and they are the worse in the nation at the moment,  but watching other peoples behaviour Im not surprised.

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 03:03
Im a few miles outside of Basildon and they are the worse in the nation at the moment,  but watching other peoples behaviour Im not surprised.

Let's hope that, by following the guidelines as you do, you will avoid the consequences of others' lack of consideration for the general community .

Blériot53 Posted at 12-20 03:23
Let's hope that, by following the guidelines as you do, you will avoid the consequences of others' lack of consideration for the general community .

Please,  Ive got two neighbours opposite that have all the family around today including a baby thats not a year old.   On the plus side we took the MIL for her first vaccine jab this morning.

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 06:23
Please,  Ive got two neighbours opposite that have all the family around today including a baby thats not a year old.   On the plus side we took the MIL for her first vaccine jab this morning.

Good for MIL. Repeat dose in a couple of weeks is it?

Blériot53 Posted at 12-19 06:03
The news headlines were full of daily updates for weeks. There's an estate of newly-built houses directly below the dam, which would have been swept away had it burst. Crazy place to build, in my view.  It was a frantic effort by all involved, not only to shore up the crumbling wall, but to pump out enough water to relieve the pressure on the ancient earthwork.  The river Goyt at that point, into which the water was drained, is about 5 Kms upstream from where we are.  The roar of the torrent running off down the gorge was tremendous, but that's about 40 metres below our place so it was never in danger.

I'm just super glad it all worked out for the best.  Could have been catastrophic.

DowntownRDB Posted at 12-20 07:17
I'm just super glad it all worked out for the best.  Could have been catastrophic.

Yes, it was such a major incident it even eclipsed Brexit as the hot news topic for a couple of weeks

Blériot53 Posted at 12-20 07:02
Good for MIL. Repeat dose in a couple of weeks is it?

10th of Jan,  at the same time. They make both appointments at the same time which is quite good.

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 07:48
10th of Jan,  at the same time. They make both appointments at the same time which is quite good.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-20 07:30
Yes, it was such a major incident it even eclipsed Brexit as the hot news topic for a couple of weeks

Wow, to eclipse Brexit news it had to of been a really major incident.  I didn't hear anything on it but I mostly avoid the news, especially with all the crap in the US news these days.  Journalism has changed tremendously since media went electronic.  Not sure if they teach integrity and verify sources in college anymore to Journalism majors.Everything tends to be sensationalized.

DowntownRDB Posted at 12-21 06:55
Wow, to eclipse Brexit news it had to of been a really major incident.  I didn't hear anything on it but I mostly avoid the news, especially with all the crap in the US news these days.  Journalism has changed tremendously since media went electronic.  Not sure if they teach integrity and verify sources in college anymore to Journalism majors.Everything tends to be sensationalized.

Your point is right on the nail. Sensationalism. The main reason for the "demonisation" of recreational drone use, to the point that the authorities are determined to legislate us out of existence.  Don't get me started

Blériot53 Posted at 12-21 07:51
Your point is right on the nail. Sensationalism. The main reason for the "demonisation" of recreational drone use, to the point that the authorities are determined to legislate us out of existence.  Don't get me started

    Sensationalism!   

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 00:58
Have they not fixed that yet?

Here's a shot of Combs Reservoir, taken by the Mavic Mini yesterday, just before the snow arrived.

DAFlys Posted at 12-20 00:58
Have they not fixed that yet?

And a hint of snow on the hills above the res'r before we turned tail and headed for home

Blériot53 Posted at 12-29 04:40
Here's a shot of Combs Reservoir, taken by the Mavic Mini yesterday, just before the snow arrived.

[view_image]

thats a nice looking shot from the mini.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-29 04:45
And a hint of snow on the hills above the res'r before we turned tail and headed for home

[view_image]

Hopefully it will get t thicker snow soon.

DAFlys Posted at 12-29 04:49
thats a nice looking shot from the mini.

It was great early on, so we got out quick. But the weather turned quickly mid-afternoon.

DAFlys Posted at 12-29 04:49
Hopefully it will get t thicker snow soon.

You spoke too soon.  Have a look at my posts from this morning

Blériot53 Posted at 12-29 04:53
You spoke too soon.  Have a look at my posts from this morning

Yes,  I just saw your message.  

DAFlys Posted at 12-29 05:01
Yes,  I just saw your message.

It's already melting away but the skies look to be holding more.

Blériot53 Posted at 12-29 05:21
It's already melting away but the skies look to be holding more.

A little frost this morning, but our snow forecast has now moved on to Friday.

DAFlys Posted at 12-30 01:11
A little frost this morning, but our snow forecast has now moved on to Friday.

No change overnight here, dull and frosty this morning.