Leeds flooding struck at heart of business

DECEMBER 27, 2015: Workmen try to clear flooded Wellington Street, Leeds.

It is a time for family, putting your feet up or browsing the sales in search of a bargain at the shops.

But for a dozen business owners this year, Boxing Day is a bitter reminder of how they lost everything 12 months to the day when the River Aire overflowed and threatened their livelihoods and employees.

The flooding on December 26, 2015 in Leeds affected a mixture of more than 3.000 homes, businesses and other premises.

And while the majority of places were dried, refurbished or ready to reopen to customers in the months that followed, some businesses sadly remain closed as a result of the water damage.

The latest figures come as the YEP prepares to launch a series of special reports from Boxing Day, taking a deeper look at the devastation the floods caused across Leeds and beyond.

Of the 371 commercial premises that flooded after the Boxing Day deluge, 12 are still out of business one year on.

Businesses forced to close permanently include Duffield Printers and Thyssen Krupp Woodhead’s Leeds site - which resulted in the loss of 90 jobs.