Christmas, floods, set-backs, steps forward and encounters with amazing people....
- Andrew Tuin
- Jan 8, 2016
- 2 min read
Well, we finished for the Christmas period feeling incredibly positive about the progress being made and starting to set plans in motion for the big opening in January. We were seeing clear progression in the construction of the wall and the ideas and dreams that have developed over the last year were finally taking shape. Then we were flooded.
It was an extremely difficult and emotional time to witness the extent of the damage and apalling scene that greeted us when the flood waters receeded. We weren't sure how we would recover or what this would mean for us as a business, but we were scared and shaken.
Then the volunteers showed up. After an initial effort by ourselves to get as much of the construction materials and panels safe, we were inundated by offers of help. The work done by the volunteers is probably the only reason we are still here and able to write this post. As such, we would like to reiterate the thanks we have already sent out, and hope that those who have helped clean, move, feed us and send kind thoughts all know just how much it is appreciated and just how much we owe to all you amazing people. You know who you are!
In particular, there are some special mentions that need to be made. Firstly, Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, who was key in coordinating the volunteer effort and (what is in our opinion) excellent response from the council. Ken and Hillary along with Sheila have ben unfailing in their willingness to support us, both by carrying out jobs but also motivate (Sheila's lunches being a highlight).
We have been on tenterhooks ever since to see exactly how the floods have affected us and find out when we could open. Monday was a huge day in getting us back on track, and huge thanks have to go to Entre-Prises in getting stuck in and continuing with the build with such veractiy. There has been incredible progress this week; the main climbing area is almost complete and other areas are going up rapidly.
We have also been grateful for the opportunity, as a local business, to have our concerns over resilience against future flooding and recovering quickly from this event aired on national forums. After interviews for radio, appearances on the ITV news and an interview for The Sunday Politics on BBC this Sunday (10th January 1100) along with a debate with Rachel Reeves MP and Robert Goodwil MP we feel hopeful that the plight of independant Yorkshire businesses affected by flooding will have been, at the very least, heard in Parliament.
We are still not able to give a definite date for opening, which we know will frustrate many of you who have been following us. All we ask is that you bear with us at this difficult time as we find our feet again. We will open and we promise the wait will have been worth it.
With the sincerest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent us wishes and helped on any level,
The Climbing Lab Team
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