Workers from IllumiDex UK Ltd have been working around the clock to repair extensive damage caused by Storm Arwen.
The storm caused devastation across Southport, destroying dozens of trees, damaging buildings, causing power cuts, cancelling events and closing schools.
The storm saw 100mph winds rip through the town on Friday and Saturday 26th and 27th November as the Met Office issued a Yellow Weather Warning for Wind, while Sefton NHS health chiefs shared a warning asking local residents to stay safe and watch out for neighbours.
Southport FC’s game against Darlington and Southport parkrun were both cancelled due to the bad weather.
The storm was followed by more fierce winds on the following Tuesday night which caused further damage, while further heavy rain and strong winds have struck again this week.
IllumiDex Director Steve Clayton said: “It really was a freak storm. We have not seen anything this bad for a long time.
“The gale force winds were so fierce, they were ripping trees out of the ground. There was one tree in Kew where the gusts were so strong they had ripped the tree out of the ground and part of the pavement as well.
“Storm Arwen caused huge damage.
“We have been working around the clock. We have been out each day to repair some of the damage that has been caused.
“We have not had a day off for four weeks, but we are determined to fix everything as soon as we can, within the constraints of when we are allowed to work.
“Because of health and safety regulations, we are only allowed to carry out work on the street between 6pm and 11pm each night, from Sunday to Thursday. We are not allowed to work on Fridays and Saturdays when more people are around.
“We have been starting work at 8am each morning, then between 6pm and 11pm we are out fixing the damage that the winds have done in Southport.
“We have now repaired Southport’s Christmas tree in the Town Hall Gardens. We have also been at The Atkinson, repairing damage which had been done there.
“The cone shaped festive decorations on the roundabout at the fire station end of Lord Street were knocked over in the storm. We have been out to repair them.
“The new Christmas tree that we had installed outside Morrisons supermarket was also damaged. We have had to take the top section away back to our workshop to carry out repairs.
“During the storm, when most people were sitting at home listening to all the noise of the wind, we were out working, dismantling the Christmas tree at Ocean Plaza and putting it in the back of our van to keep it safe. The winds were so strong that we were standing at a 45 degree angle while we worked!
“We are working as fast as we can to repair all the damage that’s been done by Storm Arwen.”
IllumiDex UK Ltd, which is based in Southport, has had a busy year.
The firm has installed the illuminated Christmas tree in Southport town centre; the ‘boulevard of light’ with 300,000 LED lights along Lord Street in Southport; Christmas decorations throughout Southport town centre; and decorations and lighting at locations including Ocean Plaza and Central 12 retail parks and in Formby town centre.
IllumiDex has also installed lighting and Christmas decorations inside and outside businesses including Southport Market, Remedy, Ra Bar, the Masons Arms, The Grapevine and many others.
The firm has provided lighting in trees and gardens at homes across the North West.
IllumiDex has also given donations worth thousands of pounds to local charities and organisations, including a donation worth £700 to the Community Link Foundation charity in Southport.
They also provided lighting at the baby remembrance gardens at both Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospital.
For more details about Illumidex UK Ltd please visit: www.illumidex.co.uk or email: info@illumidex.co.uk or call: 01704220829 (landline) or 07979158404 (mobile).
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