Royal British Legion’s Nidderdale branch in danger of closure

The Royal British Legion Nidderdale branch could close after 96 years.

The branch, which covers Pateley Bridge, Summerbridge and nearby villages, was founded in 1926.

But membership has dwindled to below 20 and the current officers, who are in their 80s, plan to step down at the end of this year.

Paul Darley, who is on the Royal British Legion’s county committee for north and east Yorkshire, said:

“No branch would mean no standard to raise at armistice parades.

“We don’t want that to happen and hope we can get enough people to keep the branch going.

“Anyone can be a member of the Royal British Legion and and annual subscription is less than £20.”

Mr Darley, who is also president of the Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion, said the workload wasn’t high, except for activity surrounding the annual Poppy Appeal fortnight in November.

Anyone interested in joining the branch can email Mr Darley at pauldarley@btinternet.com.

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National Open Gardens: Gardens taking part across the Harrogate district this summer

The temperatures have risen across the Harrogate district this week and that summer feeling has well and truly kicked in.

And what better time than to enjoy some of the stunning flora and fauna that our area has to offer.

There are lots of gorgeous gardens to explore over the next few months as part of the National Garden Scheme.

The initiative gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens in the UK and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities. The scheme also promotes the physical and mental health benefits of gardens.

We have put together a list of the participating gardens in our district from now until August:

Birstwith Hall, Birstwith

When: Sunday, June 19, 2pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: A charming and varied four-acre garden nestling in a secluded Yorkshire dale.

A formal garden and ornamental orchard, as well as extensive lawns leading to a picturesque stream and a large pond. There is also a walled garden and Victorian greenhouse.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Yorke House and White Rose Cottage, Dacre Banks

When: Sunday, June 26, 11am-5pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: An award-winning English country garden in the heart of Nidderdale.

A series of distinct areas flowing through two acres of ornamental garden. There are also colour-themed borders, as well as a natural pond and stream with delightful waterside plantings. Secluded seating areas and attractive views.

The adjacent cottage has a recently developed garden designed for wheelchair access. There is a large collection of hostas and an orchard picnic area.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Prospect House, Burton Leonard

When: Friday, June 24, 1-.30am-2pm

Admission: Adults £35, children go free

Booking: A limited number of tickets have been made available for this special event. Tickets must be booked in advance here

About: Following a welcome by the owner, there will be talks on the development of the garden, the creation of a cutting garden and colour-themed borders plus demonstration of cut flower arrangements in the potting shed. Buffet lunch included.

Prospect House features a one-acre walled, landscaped garden with ornamental pond, pergola, large oval lawned area, cutting and vegetable beds.

There is a colour-themed herbaceous long border, ‘hot’ borders, and a physic bed. There is also mature hedging, trees and seasonal interest throughout. Additional new planting areas are being established.

A renovated outhouse has been converted into a potting area used for garden workshops.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Cobble Cottage, Whixley

When: Sunday, July 3,11pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £4, children go free

About: An imaginatively designed, constantly changing, small cottage garden full of decorative architectural plants and old family favourites.

There is an Interesting water garden, containers and use of natural materials. It also features a black and white courtyard garden and Japanese-style garden with growing willow screen.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Group openings – gardens that open on the same day

Grafton gardens, Marton-cum-Grafton

Well House.

When: Sunday, July 3,11am-5pm

Admission: Adults £6, children go free

About: These two gardens in adjacent rural villages are also connected by a public footpath.

Paddock House is on an elevated site with extensive views down a large sloping lawn to a wildlife pond. A plant lover’s garden where the house is encircled by a profusion of pots and extensive plant collections combining cottage gardening with the Mediterranean and Tropical. A curved terrace of Yorkshire stone and steps using gravel and wood sleepers leads to many seating areas culminating in a cutting garden and small greenhouse.

Well House, in Grafton, nestles under the hillside, with long views to the White Horse. This one-and-a-half acre garden was begun 40 years ago and is constantly changing.  A traditional English cottage garden with herbaceous borders, climbing roses and ornamental shrubs with a variety of interesting species. Paths meander through the borders to an orchard with ducks. Refreshments are available at The Punch Bowl pub, a five-minute walk from Well House.

Dacre Banks and Summerbridge Gardens

Woodlands Cottage.

When: Sunday, July 10,12pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £10, children go free

About: Dacre Banks and Summerbridge Gardens are situated in the beautiful countryside of Nidderdale and designed to take advantage of the scenic Dales landscape.

The gardens are linked by attractive walks along the valley, but each may be accessed individually by car.

Low Hall has a romantic walled garden set on different levels around the historic C17 family home (not open) with herbaceous borders, shrubs, climbing roses and a tranquil water garden. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Riverside House is an atmospheric waterside garden on many levels, supporting shade-loving plants and features a Victorian folly, fernery, courtyard and naturalistic riverside plantings. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Woodlands Cottage is a garden of many rooms, with exquisite formal and informal plantings, and an attractive wildflower meadow which harmonises with mature woodland. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Yorke House has extensive colour-themed borders and water features with beautiful waterside plantings. The newly developed garden at White Rose Cottage is specifically designed for wheelchair users. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

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The Priory, Nun Monkton

When: Thursday, July 7,11pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £6, children go free

About: A large country garden surrounding William and Mary house (not open), at the confluence of the River Nidd and River Ouse.

It features species trees, calm swathes of lawn, clipped yew, beech and box, formal rose garden and mixed borders.

There is a new area of soft perennial planting and informal parkland. There area also kitchen gardens with a greenhouse and swimming pool where teas will be served.

The Nun Monkton Ferryboat will be running a special service on this day, connecting Nun Monkton with Beningbrough and Moor Monkton, from the riverbank next to The Priory.

Markenfield Hall, Ripon

When: Tuesday, July 12, 2pm-3pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

Booking: By guided tour only (max 10 people). Tickets must be booked in advance here

About: The work of the hall’s owner Lady Deirdre Curteis and gardener Giles Gilbey.

Mature planting combines with newly designed areas, where walls with espaliered apricots and figs frame a mix of hardy perennials.

In 2018 the farmhouse border was replanted to eventually blend seamlessly with the hall’s main east border.

Goldsborough Hall, Goldsborough

When: Sunday, July 24, 11pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: An historic 12-acre garden and formal landscaped grounds in parkland setting around Grade II*, 17th-century house, which was the former residence of HRH Princess Mary, daughter of George V and Queen Mary.

Goldsborough Hall boasts Gertrude Jekyll inspired 120ft double herbaceous borders, a rose garden and a woodland walk.

There is a large restored kitchen garden and glasshouse which produces fruit and vegetables for the hall’s commercial kitchens.

Greencroft, Littlethorpe, Ripon

When: Sunday, August 7, 12pm-4pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: A half-acre informal country garden created by the owners. It features long herbaceous borders packed with colourful late summer perennials, annuals and exotics culminating in a circular garden with views through to large wildlife pond and surrounding countryside.

Special ornamental features include a gazebo, temple pavilions, formal pool, stone wall with mullions and gate to pergola and cascade water feature.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Napkin in toaster causes fire in Harrogate

Firefighters were called to a home on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road last night when a napkin in a toaster caused a blaze.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said help was summoned at 7.25pm. It adds:

“Crews attended a fire in a residential building. Fire was caused by a napkin inside a toaster. Fire was out on arrival.

“Minor fire damage to toaster and napkin. Crews gave resident advice.”

In a busy night for the fire and rescue service, firefighters were later called to a single vehicle collision near Summerbridge in which a man was taken to hospital with suspected pelvic injuries.

The collision occurred at 9.25pm at Middlesmoor. The incident log says:

“One male was trapped and crews extricated him using hydraulic cutting gear. Male is believed to have pelvis injuries and was taken to hospital.”

Firefighters were also called when a children’s toy car caught fire in a rear yard off Market Place, Ripon, shortly after 6pm. The fire was out on arrival.

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Delight as Summerbridge school rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted

A Nidderdale primary school has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Inspectors visited Summerbridge Community Primary School in February and have now given the ‘Good’ rating across all five areas assessed, as well as for its overall effectiveness.

They highlighted pupils’ behaviour and concentration, after-school clubs and residential trips, and the ambitious learning opportunities, as among the areas where the school performed well.

The inspectors’ report said:

“Leaders want the best for pupils at this small village school. The school has a caring ethos where pupils are taught to develop skills and knowledge to maximise their potential… Positive relationships between staff and pupils are evident throughout the school. Pupils feel safe, happy and well cared for.”

The report praised the school’s teaching across numerous subject areas, as well as the special educational needs and disabilities provision. It also recognised the leadership team’s effectiveness, and said staff were positive about their jobs and enjoyed working at the school. It added:

“Staff feel valued and say that leaders are considerate of their well-being.”

To improve further, the school was advised to offer staff the opportunity to refresh and update their knowledge of the method chosen to teach phonics, and to support subject leaders to ensure staff understood how best to deliver lessons that match the intended learning outcomes.

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Reacting to the new Ofsted report, headteacher Nick Coates said:

“I am delighted with the outcome following a four-year journey of hard work by everyone involved with the school.

“The parents, the governors, the staff, the local authority and of course the children have all had a significant part to play in the success of the school and given the challenges of the last two years, this hasn’t always been easy, but we are thrilled that all our hard work has paid off and has been recognised by the inspection team.”

At its last inspection in 2018, Summerbridge Primary School was rated as ‘Requires Improvement’.

Mr Coates became headteacher in September 2016. He has also been headteacher at Darley Primary School since January 2009 and the two schools have formed a federation, with a total of 160 pupils.

Firefighters battle large wildfire near Brimham Rocks

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough tackled a wildfire on moorland near Brimham Rocks this afternoon.

The cause of the blaze, which affected a 50 metre x 50 metre stretch of land at the popular visitor spot near Pateley Bridge, is unknown.

The fire, which was reported at 2pm, was extinguished quickly.

But it prompted Harrogate Fire Station to issue a warning to people to be aware that the land is dry and to be careful putting out cigarettes and avoid open fires and barbecues, except in safe areas.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log says:

“Crews used one hose reel jet and grass beaters to extinguish the heather fire which measured 50m x 50m. The cause is unknown at this time.

Harrogate Fire Station issued a tweet warning the land is dry and for people to be extra careful in the countryside.

This afternoon, fire engines from Harrogate and Knaresborough attended a wildfire measuring 50m x 50m at Brimham Rocks near Pateley Bridge.

Fortunately they managed to get this under control and prevented the fire from spreading. Cause is unknown 1/5 pic.twitter.com/m9n890ufnL

— Harrogate Fire station (@Harrogate_NYFRS) March 22, 2022

Oven fire and trapped child

Firefighters responded to two other local fires today.

At 12.49pm, crews from Ripon and Bedale were summoned to reports of an oven on fire at a home in Melmerby.

The fire was out by the time the firefighters arrived.

At 2.41pm, Ripon firefighters responded to reports of a small child accidentally locked in a car at Stonebridgegate in Ripon.

The incident log says:

“Crews from Ripon released the child, who was distressed, by gaining entry through the rear window.”

Indoor and outdoor half-term family fun across the district

Half-term is almost upon us and the February break can often be one of the trickier holidays to navigate when it comes to keeping the kids entertained.

The weather isn’t always the kindest and it is still too early to bribe them with Easter eggs – even if they did arrive in shops on Boxing Day.

Fortunately there are lots of activities being planned in the Harrogate district, so parents can escape relatively unscathed.

We have put together a list of activities to do with the kids this half-term.

Harrogate Indoor Funfair – February 21-27

Always a popular one with families in the area, the indoor funfair is back at the Yorkshire Event Centre at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground.

With rides and inflatables for all ages, the event offers all the fun of the fair under one roof – perfect if you need to escape the unpredictable February weather.

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Morning sessions run from 10am until 1pm and afternoon sessions from 2pm until 5pm. For the first time, there will also be two 6pm-9pm sessions on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Tickets on the door will be limited. Book online to avoid disappointment.

Online tickets are £10.99 for unlimited rides per session and can be purchased here.

Fountains Abbey, Ripon – February 19 – February 27

For those little explorers who love being outdoors, a number of activities are taking place at Fountains Abbey.

Children can pull on their wellies and spend a full day exploring, running and playing.

Families will be able to plant their own snowdrop to take home from 11am-1pm on February 19, 21, and 23 and the weekend of 26 and 27.

They can also grab a ‘spring-go’ activity sheet to take with them on their adventures, spotting signs of spring – as they go!

For a full list of half-term events click here.

Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge

This year the popular attraction, set in the stunning Nidderdale countryside, is opening earlier than usual.

Visit the farm this spring and say hello to all the expectant ewes in the barns ready to give birth. If you are lucky, you may even see a lamb being born.

The farmers will be on hand to answer any questions and tell you more about the animals.

For little animal lovers, as well as sheep, there are also piglets, goats, ponies, guinea pigs and donkeys.

After working up an appetite, enjoy a homemade ice cream at the farm’s café – it’s never too cold!

No booking is required and the farm is open from 10am-4pm

Admission is £5 for adults and children – under twos are free.

Stockeld Park, near Wetherby – February 19-27

The ever-popular family attraction is holding a ‘Talking Animals Week’ over half-term.

Visitors can channel their inner Doctor Dolittle to work out the answers to the Enchanted Forest quiz, by listening to the animals.
Ice-skating and the giant maze will be open too, along with the five adventure playgrounds.
There is also a brand new panto featuring Farmer Foster and his animals,
Book tickets here.

Our Planet Your World, across the Harrogate district – February 21-February 26

Two life-size kangaroo impersonators will arrive in Harrogate.

A robotic polar bear and an 18-metre whale are among the attractions travelling round the district as part of an environment-themed week of free events.

Visit Harrogate, Harrogate Borough Council’s tourism body, has organised the week of events named ‘Our Planet, Your World’, to offer activities for families with an over-arching message of protecting the environment.

The events are as follows:

Monday, February 21

Boroughbridge Library, storytelling sessions

10am-1pm

Tuesday, February 22

Masham Town Hall, sea-theme crafting activity

11am-4pm

Wednesday, February 23

Ripon Market Square, animatronic polar bear, interactive art sculpture, face painting, craft activities for children and live music.

11am-4pm

Thursday, February 24

Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

11am-4pm

Friday, February 25

Pateley Bridge play area, environmentally-themed crafting activity for children

11am-4pm

Saturday, February 26

Knaresborough Castle Grounds, Boat About, crafting activity for children, face painting

11am-4pm

Organisers have said some activities are weather dependent so are asking visitors to follow the Visit Harrogate social media channels.

Builder fined for burning demolition waste in Glasshouses

A builder has been fined more than £1,300 for burning demolition waste on land at Harewell Wood Cottage, Glasshouses.

Harrogate Borough Council visited the property on April 29 last year and witnessed remnants of a fire from the previous evening, which consisted of timber and some corrugated roofing sheets.

Philip Snow, 31, from Glasshouses had carried out demolition work – operating under PR Snow Services – at the former butchers in Summerbridge and then disposed of some of the waste on land owned by his parents, in order to burn it, rather than disposing of the waste at an authorised waste disposal site.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue had extinguished the fire at the property on the previous evening.

The blaze had been emitting dark smoke caused by the burning of timber, insulated sandwich panels and corrugated roofing sheets.

The fire sent large amounts of black smoke into the atmosphere, causing environmental pollution and potential harm to health.

This dark smoke caused by the burning of these materials is an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993 so Harrogate Borough Council took Mr Snow to court.

The Environment Agency provided a witness statement stating there was no environmental permit or exemption in place for the burning of waste on the land at the time of the incident.

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Last month York Magistrate Court fined Snow, who pleaded guilty, £678 for the offence under section 2(1) of the Clean Air Act 1993 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £635.

Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:

“Mr Snow has shown a complete lack of awareness or consideration for the law, as well as the environment, by disposing of commercial waste in this way.

“I’d like to thank the concerned residents who raised the alarm, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for dealing with the fire swiftly and safely as well as the council officers.

“I hope this is a reminder to business owners that the illegal disposal of waste is a criminal offence and we will, with proper evidence, seek to prosecute the offender.”

Waste disposal law

Anyone employing an individual or business to remove waste from their property or business has a responsibility to ensure they dispose of it legitimately.

The easiest way to do this is to check they have a waste carriers licence (Upper Tier). This can be done on the Environment Agency’s website or by calling 0370 850 6506.

The council also advise asking for a receipt documenting the waste that was taken, by who and at what cost.

More information about fly-tipping is available on the council’s website.

Anger after Harrogate builder James Moss declared bankrupt

Three women owed thousands of pounds by Harrogate cowboy builder James Moss have said they feel let down by the system after he was declared bankrupt.

Mr Moss has lost a string of civil court cases in recent years for poor quality or unfinished building work. He owed over £30,000 to five different homeowners who won cases against him.

Going bankrupt means that Mr Moss, who lives in Summerbridge, won’t be liable for his debts and it is unlikely his claimants will ever see a penny they are owed or recover legal bills.

‘Completely flabbergasted’

Karen Macgillivray-Fallis spent her life savings on a £30,000 garage conversion in Burton Leonard for her elderly mother-in-law, but Mr Moss left it in such a state it had to be demolished.

Her mother-in-law passed away and Ms Macgillivray-Fallis blames Mr Moss for denying them of their final days living together as a family.

She said:

“I am completely flabbergasted how easy it is for someone who owes money to declare themselves bankrupt. 

“I am not a big business, I am a normal person who has lost life savings in an attempt to provide a home for my elderly mother-in-law who never had the opportunity to come and live with us due to the actions of Mr Moss. She died alone in April 2019.

“It is very frustrating that the court look at all the evidence, make a decision and then the decision seems to be unenforceable. I have worked for charities all my working life so I really support systems that protect people in genuine need but I have not seen any evidence that this is the case with Mr Moss.

“It is really important to me that justice prevails and we will be taking further steps to ensure that this happens.”

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Gill Lawrence works for a homeless charity and takes vulnerable young people into at her home near Wetherby Road whilst they get back on their feet

Mr Moss left a £13,000 kitchen conversion half-finished whilst pocketing almost the total agreed quote.

Ms Lawrence said she feels “let down” by the legal system, which has cost her even more money trying to recover the money she was owed.

“I have paid to take him to court, who agreed with me. They instructed him to pay me £8,700 which he refused to do. The courts do nothing else to ensure you get the money they have instructed him to pay.

“At that point I think it should be up to them to enforce payment, but no, you have to pay them even more money for them to instruct payment, and then you have to pay even more money to instruct bailiffs to collect from him.

“He has still refused to pay. So now he has declared himself bankrupt, I feel like I have been let down three times, by him, the courts and the bailiffs who I paid a fortune to and I’ve ended up with nothing. How can that be right?.”

‘More regulation is needed’

Vicky Cooke is a French teacher from Ilkley who needed a new roof on an extension at her home. Ms Cooke paid Moss £3,400 for the job, and he even offered a 25-year guarantee that the work would be built to last.

But after apparently completing the job it took just two months for the roof to start leaking.

Ms Cooke said:

“I’m not really surprised that Mr Moss is declaring himself bankrupt. The debt will be written off. In the meantime, we’ve worked hard and honestly to earnt the money to pay a reputable roofer to repair what we’d already paid to Mr Moss to do.

“The whole building and roofing trade needs regulating to protect consumers from cowboys like James Moss.”

‘The system is unfair’

Andrew Gray, founder of Harrogate law firm Truth Legal, said the small claims court process was stacked against the claimant and that “crafty defendants” know how to play the system.

He said:

“If a claimant engages a solicitor to pursue a claim, then, even if the claim succeeds, the claimant is unlikely to recover their legal costs. In claims for smaller sums, perversely, the legal fees can dwarf the amount of damages. With or without lawyers, the process is slow and always stressful.

“When defendants become insolvent, the litigation process usually becomes pointless, further annoying a genuine claimant, who is left significantly out of pocket and further aggrieved.

“Frankly, the system is unfair and is deserving of a significant upheaval.

“Crafty defendants know how to play the system, to the massive disadvantage of the rule-following majority.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Moss to respond to this article but we did not receive a response by time of publication.

Harrogate cowboy builder James Moss declared bankrupt

Harrogate cowboy builder James Moss has been declared bankrupt, following a string of civil court cases in the past few years for poor quality or unfinished building work.

Mr Moss left a trail of shoddy workmanship across the Harrogate district and owed over £30,000 to five different homeowners who won cases against him.

A document on the public records website The Gazette says Mr Moss filed for bankruptcy last week and his application was accepted the next day. It lists him as not working and living in Summerbridge.

Mr Moss has multiple claims outstanding from people who hired him for building work. 

Last year, the Stray Ferret heard how two women won cases against him in the civil court.

They included a woman in Harrogate who said he left a £13,000 kitchen half-finished whilst pocketing almost the total agreed quote.

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Three different claimants have also won cases in the county court against Mr Moss this year alone.

In January, he was told to pay £11,495 to a woman who was unhappy about the quality of his work.

In February, he was ordered to repay money after a £30,000 garage conversion was so poor it had to be partly demolished.

In April, he was ordered by a judge to repay a man from Knaresborough £1,275 after he took a deposit but failed to show up on a job.

None of them have received any money from Mr Moss.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Moss for a comment but he declined.

Family moves to Rudding Park to escape minus one degree home

A Beckwithshaw family has booked into Rudding Park hotel to escape its freezing home after two days without power.

Sylvia Skipper’s home was among thousands in the district to lose electricity when Storm Arwen struck late on Friday.

Power has returned to most but about 800 properties in the Harrogate district are still affected, according to a live map by Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the electricity distribution network across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

Ms Skipper, who lives on Shaw Lane, said her family had been without power since 9.20pm on Friday. There has been no hot water or heating, despite the freezing conditions, and they have been unable to cook. She said:

“Our house yesterday afternoon was minus one degrees.

“We couldn’t take any more and are now staying at Rudding Park. We have no idea whether power will be restored today.

“This is inhumane. We have lost faith as we have been forgotten about.”

Northern Powergrid’s live map shows 660 homes are without power in the Summerbridge and Bishop Thornton area, along with 60 in Spofforth, 30 in North Stainley, 20 in Pannal, 20 in High Birstwith, 20 in Kirkby Malzeard, fewer than 10 in Knaresborough, fewer than 10 in Greenhow Hill.

Ms Skipper said:

“The communication from Northern Powergrid has been dreadful.

“Until this afternoon we didn’t even have a phone signal on top of this so we had to venture in the car so that we could communicate with Northern Powergrid.

“I have seen their Twitter updates about providing hot drinks and support to numerous areas in the North East yet there has been absolutely nothing for us or our neighbours.”

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Steve Crisp, whose home between Beckwithshaw and Leathley is also without power, said:

“I keep trying to access Northern Powergrid but the website is unreliable and this morning when I rang and confirmed I would like to wait to speak to someone the system just cut me off.

“Patience and Dunkirk spirit being stretched!”

He and his wife were luckier than some because they had a log burner, which provided heat and a means to cook beans on toast.

‘One of worst storms for 20 years’

Northern Powergrid’s latest update at 11pm last night said it had restored power to around 208,000 of the 240,000 customers. About 100 engineers from other power companies had been drafted in to help. It added:

“The scale of damage in some locations is so extensive that in some cases, large sections of overhead lines will need to be rebuilt in order to restore supplies.

“Where it can, Northern Powergrid is deploying temporary fixes that get customers back on supply whilst its teams coordinate the necessary permanent repairs to get the region’s power network back to full strength.

Rod Gardner, Northern Powergrid’s major incident manager, added:

“The impact from Storm Arwen has been one of the worst we’ve experienced in the last 20 years.”