Students go swimming in university underpass as Lancaster is flooded for the second time in three years

Earlier this week, parts of Lancaster University including lecture halls, Pendle Bar and the sports centre were flooded - buses to campus were disrupted. 

The student union club The Sugarhouse was the first to be closed over safety concerns, unlike the previous year the university was not evacuated. 

"Uni is still open" cheers Lancaster I'll just throw my swimsuit on #studentlife #Lancaster #flooding pic.twitter.com/GQN4IEIgXy

— Lottie Brown (@lottiebbrown) November 23, 2017

This is the second time in three years that the university has been hit with extreme floods.

Uhoh it looks like Lancaster is flooding again #lancasterfloods #lancaster #flooding pic.twitter.com/MNpny31NL5

— Amelia Blackwell (@MilliBlackwell) November 22, 2017

In December 2015 it was forced to evacuate all students in the wake of Storm Desmond, those who were unable to find transport home and many international students camped in the university's Great Hall until the weather cleared up. 

Stories posted on social media show students swimming and water skiing in the underpass and jokingly charging 50p for a ride on inflatable boats.

@LancasterUni flooded so students get their inflatable boats out and attach themselves to cars to go water skiing in the underpass (Video posted on Overheard at Lancaster) pic.twitter.com/FfLihyU6Xl

— Teuta (@teuutaa_) 24 November 2017

Lancaster MP Cat Smith expressed her frustration at Lancashire County Council's failure to address the drainage systems that allowed Desmond to rampage the city in 2015 despite repeated appeals. She was promised a reply within six weeks. 

On the 4th October I wrote to @LancashireCC expressing concerns over blocked drains and was promised a reply within six weeks. That’s passed and I’ve heard nothing and observe drains blocked throughout Lancaster and Fleetwood. I’m angry tonight.

— Cat Smith (@CatSmithMP) November 22, 2017

Speaking to TNS, students told us how they have been affected. 

Third year Chemistry student Giorgio Fusi told us "it’s not as bad as Desmond, last time it flooded I had to find a way to the airport to fly home."

Economics student Christian Larby was concerned about the wildlife: ‘I hope the ducks are ok,' he told us. 

Featured image courtesy of Twitter @LottieBBrown