Mary Coughlan, the 75-year-old owner of Lucindas, shared that their family-run business, a staple in Purley for 40 years, is threatened by recurrent flooding which ruins stock and attracts vermin. Such issues keep her awake at night, making the future unclear, despite their historical resilience through economic downturns. The towering floodwaters create a bottleneck, exacerbating their plight, as proven during the monsoon-like weather where she feels resigned to an inevitable disaster that strikes unexpectedly.
Describing the challenges, Mary explained that during heavy rains, the back of the shop becomes inundated, resulting in a makeshift reservoir that devastates the business. She noted, 'When the heavens open and we have a real monsoon, we don't have a hope then. We've had the tide mark up to here [she points to a spot halfway up the wall].' This visual illustrates the perilous situation faced by not only her business but others on Russell Hill Parade.
The emotional impact of the floods hinders progress for the businesses along Russell Hill Road. Mary highlighted the struggle of managing the shop amid such adversity: 'We have to put these sandbags down, even in the day, just in case there's a flash flood. It's extraordinary and you can't imagine it when it's not raining.' Such precautions have become a relentless part of their daily routine, reflecting a desperate effort to safeguard their livelihood from nature's wrath.
Collection
[
|
...
]