Concerns have been raised over the icy conditions in Lincoln after people were seen “practically ice-skating” around the city centre. Like many parts of the region, the Brayford Pool flooded on Monday, January 6, following severe weather conditions, including extensive rain and snow.
On Wednesday, January 8, parts of the city close to the water body, which connects the River Witham with Foss Dyke, experienced flooding. This included along Brayford Wharf and Carholme Road, where a number of businesses and homes have had to put out sandbags.
Lincolnshire County Councillor, Neil Murray, who represents the Carholme division, explained flooding is “a long-standing problem” for the area. He said: “Every time we get a lot of rain, it is just like a swimming pool.
Icy conditions along the Brayford Wharf on Wednesday, January 8
(Image: Laycie Beck)
“I have been asking the County Council for a year to get it sorted. It’s been a problem for five years and unfortunately the County Council don’t seem to prioritise things in Lincoln.”
Councillor Murray, who is also a City of Lincoln Councillor, added: “I’m hoping the County Council are starting to listen. It’s not as bad today (Wednesday, January 8) but a few days ago it was like a swimming pool. Unfortunately this happens a lot.”
He continued: “I’m just glad it’s stopped raining as there is only so much the river can take. People need to be careful.”
Due to the freezing conditions in the area following the flooding, there was a large amount of ice on some roads and paths, including along the Brayford Wharf. MP for Lincoln, Hamish Falconer, said: “My message for residents is there is no more rain forecast but it is cold, it is slippery and it is icy.”
The area has become icy following the flooding earlier this week
(Image: Laycie Beck)
He continued: “I’ve been out talking to residents and going to various parts of the city that are badly affected. It’s good that there is no more rain forecast but it is still icy and there are places in Lincoln that have been flooded.”
The MP said it is “disappointing” to see areas and residents impacted again by flooding and that he will be taking up the issues with the relevant authorities. Regarding the icy conditions he added: “I have seen a number of my constituents practically ice skating around areas that are icy in the city centre.”
He went on to say that it is important for the area to have gritting in place and hopes it can “get the city back to normal as soon as possible.”
Karen Cassar, Assistant Director for Highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “With such a huge amount of water and temperatures down to -7C at night, and not rising above freezing point throughout the day, we have had the toughest conditions to work with.
“In terms of gritting, we have been putting salt down right across the county to keep roads and footpaths open and will continue to do so around the clock. However, where an area has been flooded and then the water has frozen quickly, which has happened in a few places across Lincolnshire such as Brayford and Carholme Road, then we are very limited in what we can do.”
Parts of the flooded area on Brayford Wharf have frozen over
(Image: Laycie Beck)
She continued: “Putting grit down on frozen flood water can make the situation more dangerous. The grit starts to work on the top layer of ice, it melts a small part of it which then – and this happens at the moment with the day-long temperatures – refreezes very quickly, making the surface immediately slippery again.
“The issue then become that we find people assume that, because salt has been put down, that conditions have improved and take less care. The opposite about the state of the road or footpath is in fact true. This is why we have closed the roads where necessary and taken every possible solution available given the extreme weather.
“We will continue monitoring the ice levels and, as soon as possible, we will put salt down the moment it can be useful.”