Storm Darragh: Flood barriers go up in Ironbridge as thousands remain without power and scores of lost trees are counted

The full impacts of Storm Darragh aren't over yet with a warning for wind in place until 6pm today and with rainwater still needing to get through the river system.

More than 10,000 electricity customers across Shropshire and Mid Wales are still without power after cuts.

At 1.03pm on Sunday there were 111 power cuts in Shropshire, and 47 in Powys affecting 7,311 customers in Shropshire and 2,936 in Powys.

Many of those customers have been told to expect power to be off until around 6pm on Sunday evening.

National power failures in the Rhayader and Llandrindod area have also led to water pumps going off.

Powys County Council has invited residents without any water supply to go to their nearest leisure centre.

“All are open today, for a warm welcome and a warm drink,” a council spokesperson said.

Meanwhile the Wharfage in Ironbridge was closed on Sunday morning as the barriers are being erected in readiness for the peak, currently predicted for Monday evening.

Across Shropshire trees have come down as high winds swept the county.

Telford & Wrekin Council says the impact has been “significant, with severe weather conditions causing widespread disruption across the borough.”

A council spokesperson added: “The storm has brought down trees, blocked roads, damaged electricity cables and buildings, as well as surface flooding.

“Council and emergency crews have worked through the night, and efforts continue this morning to address the ongoing challenges.”

More than 200 calls were made to Telford & Wrekin Council, and as a result, the call centre was inundated with requests for assistance.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, has also been overwhelmed by the volume of calls, responding to critical incidents involving fallen trees.

Councillor Richard Overton, (Lab) Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement said: “We want to express our thanks to all those who have reported incidents and assisted in identifying areas that require immediate action.

“This has been a true community effort, and I’d also like to thank our crews and our emergency service colleagues, for working together and mitigating the damage caused by the storm.”

The council's teams are dealing with 87 fallen trees currently reported but the team estimates more with calls still coming in this morning.

Crews have been working through the night, prioritising emergency callouts to make areas safe.

Once all emergency calls have been attended, the process to remove the debris will then begin in order of severity.

“Our teams are doing their very best to get through all logged calls as quickly as possible," Councillor Overton said. 

“We ask for your patience as we process all the incidents, if you have logged a call, please know that it is being dealt with, and we appreciate your understanding. For dangerous situations or immediate risk to life, please contact the out-of-hours number immediately.”

The council has confirmed that flood barriers have also been deployed in Ironbridge as a precautionary measure.

Councillor Overton, added: “As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continue to rise, Telford & Wrekin Council is acutely aware of the strain on local services and resources.

“We are seeing a growing demand for emergency response services, and as we face more frequent extreme weather events, we must adapt to these new challenges.

“This put increasing pressure on our already stretched resources, but we remain committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents.

“We will continue to work with all our partner agencies to provide the best possible service, even as the pressure on budgets and staffing grows.”

West Mercia Police has appealed to people to only call  999 where there is an immediate risk to life.

A spokesperson said: “We’re receiving a huge number of calls in relation to blocked roads and damage caused by storm Darragh.

“Any issues relating to blocked roads should be reported to your local council.

“Thanks for helping us to keep our phone lines free for those who need immediate help.”

North Shropshire seems to have been hard hit.

The Oswestry Safer Neighbourhood Team responded to a number of reports of fallen trees.

Police officer Michael Hogg, of Oswestry Rural North policing team said on one occasion officers used their hands and household saws to clear a tree from the A5 near Oswestry.

Mr Hogg said: “On one occasion officers were able to remove the obstructing tree from the north carriage way with household saws and hands, along with an assist from Shropshire Highways who were on route to another road closure but stopped to assist allowing us to get the tree removed within 10 minutes of arriving at the location.

“A second report in the same location on the A5 saw a much larger tree blocking a third of the carriageway but mostly on the Northbound side.

“An amazing member of the public stopped to report the blockage and remained to direct traffic until officers arrived and continued to do so for some time after.

“Two tree surgeons on route to another incident also stopped to assist pruning back some of the branches allowing further room for manoeuvre, reducing the blockage to under half of the carriageway. Unfortunately, due to the darkness setting in on the unlit A5, the continued high wind speeds and rain, and the threat of further trees falling into the carriageway the A5 was closed between Gledrid and Gobowen roundabouts due to the risks poised to both passing vehicles and persons on foot assisting with traffic management.”

Two local farmers came to the rescue with  a Manitou and chainsaws.

“The Oswestry Safer Neighbourhood Team would like to say a massive thank you to those members of the public who assisted in this situation taking some risk with the conditions and other trees threatening to fall,” said the officer.