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  • "I know this was a pre-school, but if this was an Academy, would the repairs be the sole responsibility of the Academy i.e. threaten the quality of education and perhaps bankrupt it. At the moment, there is pressure for schools to move from Local Authority control, but incidents like this make me wonder if they have thought this through."
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Rossendale pre-school left with £10k flood bill

1:40pm Wednesday 27th June 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Adams

BIG CLEAN-UP School manager Sheila Callan, left, and after-schools manager Sharon Rumsam clean away the aftermath of the flood BIG CLEAN-UP School manager Sheila Callan, left, and after-schools manager Sharon Rumsam clean away the aftermath of the flood

DEVASTATING flooding in Rossendale has caused more than £10,000 of damage to a pre-school.

The ground floor of Crawshawbooth Community Centre was sub-merged after Friday’s torrential downpour and all pre-school and after-school classes have been cancelled for at least a week.

School staff and volunteers are calling for help to replace the damaged equipment.

The Adelaide Street site has suffered at the hands of water damage and volunteer co-ordinator Louise Cooper estimated ‘at least £10,000 of damage’, which iswell above the amount covered by the buildings insurance policy.

The vice-chair of Crawshawbooth Community Association and Rossendale Council leader Alyson Barnes, called the damage ‘horrendous’ but praised the spirit of local residents and businesses.

She said: “The centre basically acted as a rest point for families affected by the floods. There were electricians here until well after midnight and people were back out at 7am on Saturday to ensure the Olympic torch route was safe.

“I tip my hat to everyone who is involved in the ongoing clean-up operation.

“Everyone has pulled together and it says a great deal about the people of Crawshawbooth.”

Loss adjustors will visit the centre today as the Environment Agency, county and borough council officials continue to assess the aftermath.

A village fundraising day has been organised for July 22 to help cover the costs of replacing damaged items such as furniture, toys, dinner ware and plugs.

One of the organisers, Paula Riley from Riley’s Butchers, said: “We need donations, raffle prizes, cakes, face painters or just time from volunteers.

“It would be tragic if we lost the pre-school particularly in these circumstances.

“The floods were devastating and they have completely destroyed the contents.”

Talks are being held with a view to relocating the pre-school on to the building’s middle floor.

Coun Barnes also said a meeting would be arranged ‘in the next week or two’ with environment officials with a view to implementing some ‘hard measures’ to try to prevent future flooding.

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