Clough Hall Park in Kidsgrove remains shut after a mini-tornado caused extensive damage
Kidsgrove: So, Clough Hall Park is closed, and it’s been a whole month already! A mini-tornado hit the area, and it really did a number on the park.
They say about 160 trees got uprooted, which is just wild. There’s a sign up letting folks know the park is still closed, and honestly, no one knows when it’ll reopen.
Councillor David Hutchison mentioned that the winds were crazy that night. Some people even called it a tornado! Can you imagine? They had just checked the trees a couple of weeks before, and then bam, they’re all gone.
After the storm, the council had to focus on the trees that were a danger to people, like the ones near homes and sidewalks. And then more high winds came along, knocking down even more trees. It’s been a real mess.
Mr. Hutchison said the damage at Clough Hall Park is the worst they’ve seen in a while. They’ve got a lot of cleanup to do and need to check the remaining trees to make sure they’re safe.
He gets that people are frustrated about the park being closed and appreciates everyone’s patience. They’re working hard to get things sorted, but safety comes first.
As for the lost trees, they plan to replace them eventually. The council has a policy to plant a sapling for every tree that’s lost, which is pretty cool. They’ve planted over 19,600 trees in recent years!
In fact, they’re gearing up to plant more than 4,400 new trees in early 2025. It’s all about investing in the community and helping the environment.
