Having seen the TV footage, I knew in my head that somewhere in Newburn there was a block of flats with the foundations washed away, about to be demolished. And of course you completely sympathise with people whose homes and businesses are ruined and who must be worried beyond belief about what will happen. And I'd been told that the road was closed and I'd have to go into the village via Throckley. But actually seeing what's going on it something else.
I walked with a friend across the front of the almshouses, as near to the work as we could get. The road is not just closed, it is barricaded off. Diggers shovelled earth around what appeared to be a makeshift dam in the middle of the road. Apparently (so the man in the stores told me) there is a huge crater here where the earth and rubble washed out further up the culvert burst up through the road surface. It all seemed a bit unreal.
We retraced our steps and went up the hill to try and look at the flats. Even on this side of the dene, flats have been evacuated and paths are not just closed with notices and tape, but rigid barriers. So we couldn't look down into the culvert, just sense the air of emptiness around the place.
The road was closed too beyond the school. Here fire and rescue crews were still stationed and in addition to the barriers etc was a private security guard. We weren't the only sightseers. The whole place has a tense feeling, but thank goodness no one was killed or seriously injured.
So, at least one block of flats must be demolished. Small businesses in the centre of Newburn will undoubtedly suffer as long as the road is closed (and that must be a long job, surely). Bus services are diverted and for a few days Newburn was without any service at all (now there are shuttle services up to Throckley). We returned to the centre of the village via a footpath alongside the churchyard, ending up at the war memorial. A short walk, but long on story.
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