Floods took authorities ‘by surprise’ as no ‘particular warning given’, Andy Burnham says

‘There has to be accountability’ over Greater Manchester’s response to New Year’s Day flooding, according to the mayor, who admitted authorities ‘were taken by surprise’.

‘Torrential’ rainfall battered Greater Manchester from New Year’s Eve well into January 1, leading to police declaring a ‘major incident’.

Officers attended floods in Stalybridge and Stockport over the course of New Year’s Day.

Andy Burnham believes 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, and several major roads were closed. No injuries have been recorded as of Thursday (January 2) morning.

Now, the mayor has called for ‘accountability’ after admitting ‘we were all taken by surprise by some degree’.

He said: “I think we do have to have a look back at the warnings. 

“We were all taken by surprise by some degree. There was no named storm. There was not a particular warning the authorities gave. 

“I am not saying that to point the finger… but it does seem we get hit by very local torrential rain at potential locations. That might have made it a unique event.”

Mr Burnham added he believes budgets for clearing drains also needed to be looked at, as well as the resilience of existing flood defences.