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Back in business — the flooded B&B
A PROMINENT Morpeth B&B is back in business, six months after it was swamped by 6ft of water.
Images of Newminster Cottage, off Oldgate Bridge, were flashed around the world on September 6 as the Morpeth flood lapped at its letterbox.
Owners Paul and Zoe Gillie returned the following day to find a thick, black sludge covering their ground floor and all their furniture destroyed.
There was no option but to move out with their two young children, one-year-old Holly and Harvey, four, while their home and business was stripped bare and restored.
But after stays at Longhirst and Abbey Meadows, the family is finally back home, six weeks ahead of schedule.
And bookings are already coming in for the three guest rooms.
Mr Gillie said: "The relief is just overwhelming, but the happiest of all of us was Harvey, who just loved getting back to his house and his bedroom again to play with his toys.
"It's exciting to be back because the bookings are already coming through thick and fast.
"It's a beautiful house and a good place to live, but it's a cracking little business as well. Regardless of the river flooding, it is still the most beautiful spot in town.
"We certainly don't want to go through anything like this again. Some serious questions still need to be asked about what the Environment Agency is doing because they need to get some flood protection started now."
The business was up for sale before the flood and the couple are still planning to move out as they need more space for their family, but Mrs Gillie, who has been keeping a photo diary throughout the restoration work, is hoping it will not be for a while.
"It's fantastic to be back. We do have to move because we haven't got room for the children, but I'm hoping we'll be here for another year or so now so that we can live in the house," she said.
"The neighbours were really pleased to see us moving back in and we are already full for the Easter weekend and have had a lot of enquiries for the Summer.
"All the other B&Bs in the town seem to be full as well.
"A lot of people have workmen in and have had insurance people staying, but they are saying that the tourists are starting to come back, which is really nice.
"It has been a stressful six months, but we're getting back to normal now. I just hope we can stay here for a bit."
The property has been restored by specialists FSH Maintenance, which has also worked with flood victims in Hull, Sheffield and Carlisle, and the company used advanced drying techniques to dry the premises in just 11 days, instead of the standard four months or longer.
In total, six weeks were shaved off the timescale for completion and workers say there is a similar picture in the 20 other Morpeth properties under their care.
Managing Director Ian Wood said: "We do specialise in insurance work and are a specialist contractor for that industry.
"We have the resources and skills to be able to do a job effectively, on time and in budget. The quality is second to none.
"We have more than 100 tradesmen we can call on and that is what makes the difference between us and most other contractors."
Following the flood, the business has opened a new base in Pegswood and taken on a number of staff from the area to support its operation.
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Weather for Morpeth
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
