Brunton Park clean up starts on Wednesday morning
The post-flood clean up begins at Brunton Park on Wednesday morning [9 Dec] and we would like your help with what – as we speak – appears to be a mammoth task ahead.
Those available to assist are asked to report to main reception at Brunton Park at 10am – but please come suitably attired (sturdy footwear/welliebobs and protective gloves are a must), as the scale of the devastation has to be seen to be believed.
**Please note - adults (over the age of 18) only please**
Media officer Andy Hall said: “The force of the floodwater has toppled cabinets, flipped desks and almost completely destroyed filing systems.
“A layer of mud and silt has been left behind now that the water has receded and there’s no doubt that we’re going to need help to speed the return-to-normal process up somewhat. If anyone does have a few hours to spare then please pop along and see us. There’s plenty for us all to do.”
Staff were allowed back into the stadium for the first time this morning and, prepared for the worst, were still shocked to see the scale of the devastation caused by last weekend’s flood event.
Finance Director Suzanne Kidd said: “We were all stunned when we got inside the building this morning. Every single area has been affected and the destruction caused by the floodwater has been extensive.
“Club staff will be in tomorrow morning to begin the process of recording the damage, and we have already had large skips delivered so that the clear up can get underway in earnest. It does seem very daunting for us at this moment in time but we’ve watched the residents of the houses around us show a real level of determination and purpose from the moment they got back into their houses today. They have been a fantastic and humbling example to us all.”
Admin operations have been based at the Pioneer Food Service offices at Rosehill since Monday, with fully fitted office Portacabin units due to be delivered to allow ongoing operations to be centred around Brunton Park at the earliest opportunity.
Offers of office and working space, equipment, help and all manner of assistance were received from club partners and friends Bluefin Insurance, Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd, Virgin Trains, YESSS Electrical, Purple ICT and Atlas Holdings, Online Systems, Story Homes, Esh Border Construction, Global Heat Source, Rickerby, Carlisle Glass, Carlisle Ambassadors, Graham Howe, McKnight Builders, Brampton Skips, Cumberland Building Society, Wannop/Esk Quarry, Bendles Solicitors, Cito Cleaning, Harrogate Water, Liberty Leisurewear, Dominos Pizza and Carlisle City Football Club as soon as the first images of the stadium appeared.
Sales and Marketing Director Phil King said: “The response we’ve had from our club sponsors and partners over the course of the last 48 hours has been staggering. There’s a genuine sense of community which has come from what has been a horrible situation for so many of us, and that includes the small and large businesses we work with.
“We’re looking to get ourselves back on track as quickly as possible and that has been made much easier thanks to the offers of help we’ve received. The understanding of the difficulties we face from our fans has also been incredible, and we ask for their continued patience as we look to recover and put new ticket and hospitality sales procedures in place.
“This is a tough period for everyone but we are determined to come out of it stronger and ready to push on in support of the excellent results we’ve been seeing on the pitch.”
