Atherton shopping outlet flooded (From Leigh Journal)

Flood damage could run into six figures at Atherton's Ena Mill

1:40pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News

THE owners of a giant retail outlet aim to re-open next week after a flood wiped out the entire ground floor and large areas of the first floor.

The flood at landmark Ena Mill Atherton is believed to have started between Sunday evening and Monday morning. The ground floor was most seriously hit with water three inches deep in places.

It is feared that the cost of the damage could run into six figures.

Ena Mill entrepreneur Simon Yates said: “It’s devastating. We’re just taking stock of it all at the moment. It’s one of those situations that nothing can prepare you for. It couldn’t have come at a worse time just before Half Term, an important trading time for us. We’ve been advertising heavily and forecasting a record week of sales. We’d already turned away 400 people before lunchtime on Monday.

"All we can think about is getting everything cleaned up and re-open as soon as possible. Our lives are on hold until we do."

Last month it was revealed that forward plans to expand the ground floor at Ena Mill had been brought forward less than five months since the redeveloped retail outlet opened.

The ground floor extension will increase the retail space at Ena Mill by 30% an extra 10,000 square feet taking the shopping centre to a total 43,000 square feet of retail space.

The expansion represents a further six-figure investment and is due to be completed by April 2012.

There is already a waiting list of more than 30 new suppliers seeking space in the extended area as well as existing concessions looking to expand.

The outlet currently employs 40 and is on target to employ more than 60 people by 2013.

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