Resilient owners of three flood-hit Kendal shops are firmly back in business

The fryers are sizzling once again at fish-and-chip shop Frydays, on New Road, thanks to seven months of hard work by owners Martin and Janice Dickens.

At Burrell's Newsagents, on Longpool, owner Hilary Knaggs is welcoming back loyal customers after Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron cut the ribbon on Monday.

Meanwhile, Nigel Byrom is full of praise for the local support that has helped his furniture store return to Wildman Street this week from temporary premises at K Village. "Everybody has gone through hell, not just us," he said. "The Kendal people have kept our family business going."

Queues of eager customers greeted the re-opening of Frydays chippy, across the road from the River Kent, which had to be rebuilt after December's floods. The couple had taken over the shop just two years before, and they stripped the takeaway back to its bare bones for a complete refit.

Thanks to new resilience measures, the couple are confident they will not face the same scenario if Kendal floods again.

"We’ve had all sorts of things done, from putting in waterproof flooring and materials, to fitting a stainless steel kitchen and moving all the electrics higher," said Martin. "If we have anything like that again, hopefully now we should be able to mop up, sanitise everywhere and get back open much quicker, without having to replace the lot.’"

The couple were able to pay for the extra measures - over and above the like-for-like repairs covered by their insurance - after applying to South Lakeland District Council for a flood resilience grant of up to £5,000.

So far they have been awarded £3,500 and they are urging other flood-hit home and business owners to apply.

"It was a horrible, stressful time and it was all so overwhelming," said Janice of the floods, "so I can understand if people haven’t wanted to think about filling out more forms, but we’d say to anyone in our position to definitely apply, it can really make a difference."

Newsagent Hilary Knaggs told the Gazette she was "exhausted" but "so pleased to be back" at Burrell's. "It's been a struggle but we got here," she said. "My customers have been very loyal. I just can't wait to see them all again."

During Storm Desmond, water surged into the shop, wrecking the stockroom and freezers, but Hilary got Burrell's sanitised and reopened after two weeks. Then, in late April, the newsagents shut for a thorough inspection and refit.

"I feel sorry for all my customers that are still not back in their homes," added Hilary. "I see my customers having babies, then I see them growing, going to nursery, going to primary school, and I love all that."

MP Tim Farron said it was "fantastic to see yet another local shop back on its feet", adding: "I have been massively inspired by the grit and determination which our community has shown in fighting back from the floods."

Nigel Byrom's family-run furniture and carpet store is back in business at Wildman Street this week, after returning from K Village. Nigel praised his wife Sharon, son Aaron, staff, customers and local tradespeople such as John Bracken of Pro Build, and David Sharp's builders, who restored the flood-hit store.

"We are so grateful, not just to the customers and future customers, but to the local trades who worked that extra mile," said Nigel, adding that his grandfather would be "proud as punch" of Aaron, the fourth-generation Byrom to work at the 82-year-old furnishers.

Meanwhile, the owner of one of the firms flooded at Kendal's Dockray Hall Industrial Estate is celebrating 10 years in business. Andy Fell, of Lakes Window Tints, said he was able to continue working while his offices and workshop dried out, and thanked all who had helped him.

- For more about flood resilience grants, visit www.southlakeland.gov.uk/flooding-help-and-advice/grants/property-flood-resilience-grant/