After the floods: One Carlisle street surveys the damage – in pictures
17 December 2015
Following Storm Desmond, photojournalist Peter Caton visited people living on a severely flooded road in Carlisle, Cumbria. His images capture the impact of the floods on their lives and homes
Anne Thomson stands in her front room with furniture and debris from the water scattered around her. ‘Within an hour the water in our home went from zero to five foot high. The house is now worth nothing.’
Bart Thomson surveys his ruined belongings outside his home. ‘Twenty-five years ago we didn’t have this problem with flooding. We don’t know what the answer is.’
John Allan, in his Carlisle house after the flood subsided. ‘When it last happened in 2005, I thought it would never happen again but this time the water rose much higher. The government are not doing enough and we need a better flood defence system. Our house is ruined and we won’t be able to sell it now. Maybe we can try and sell it in 10 years time when this is forgotten about.’
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Flooding at Ullswater in the Lake District, Cumbria, 10 December
A destroyed road from Ambleside to Keswick in the Lake District, Cumbria, 12 December
Destroyed belongings line the street on Warwick Road in Carlisle, 11 December
Flood-damaged books are left piled outside a Carlisle home on 11 December
A resident of Warwick Road stands by her belongings that have been ruined by the floods, 11 December 2015
Inside a kitchen on Warwick Road after the flood had subsided.
Bart Thomson surveys his ruined belongings outside his home. ‘Twenty-five years ago we didn’t have this problem with flooding. We don’t know what the answer is.’
John Allan, in his Carlisle house after the flood subsided. ‘When it last happened in 2005, I thought it would never happen again but this time the water rose much higher. The government are not doing enough and we need a better flood defence system. Our house is ruined and we won’t be able to sell it now. Maybe we can try and sell it in 10 years time when this is forgotten about.’
Francesca Patterson, 24: ‘This is the beginning of climate change for us in the UK. I dont know what the future holds for us.’
Alison Allan standing in her hallway: ‘We will never be able to sell our home now. Who would want to buy a house that is prone to flooding?”
The ruined contents of flooded Warwick Road homes are piled up on the streets