Hundreds sign petition demanding "adequate" flood defences are installed in Doncaster villages
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The motion is being presented to a meeting of the full council today and calls on the body to improve measures along the River Don in Conisbrough and Denaby.
Ward councillor Lani-Mae Ball said people were concerned that a defence scheme further down the Don at Meadowhall in Sheffield ‘may increase flood risk’ in their area.
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Hide AdParts of the Conisbrough ward experienced floods in the deluge of November 2019.
The petition, signed by 1,156 people, calls for the Environment Agency to carry out proper maintenance and flood defences along the River Don and Kearsley Brook.
In response, the Environment Agency said vegetation clearance work along Kearsley Brook had began and extensive monitoring ‘does not increase full flood risk’ in reference to the work at Meadowhall.
Coun Ball said: “Conisbrough and Denaby have been let down badly by the Government, including the Environment Agency, to provide adequate protection within the villages in terms of proactive maintenance and the creation of flood defences at the River Don/Kearsley Brook.
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Hide Ad“This cannot continue and the people of these villages deserve better. We demand the Environment Agency fully fund flood defence of these areas and regularly maintain the existing water courses.
“After the floods of 2007 and now 2019, the people of this area note the scheme delivered at Meadowhall, Sheffield and are concerned that such defences may increase flood risk further down the Don Valley, leaving people and communities vulnerable.”
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the devastating effects of flooding.
“Since the floods in South Yorkshire last November, we have been working closely with organisations such as Doncaster Council, Yorkshire Water and the Internal Drainage Boards to investigate the causes of the flooding, inspect and repair our flood defences, help communities to recover and increase their flood resilience.
“We routinely maintain local river channels and flood defences where it reduces flood risk to properties by undertaking activity such as grass cutting, structure maintenance, checking for blockages and doing repairs. This week, for example, we have started vegetation clearance work along Kearsley Brook in Conisbrough to reduce flood risk.
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Hide Ad“We carry out careful modelling to ensure that new flood defence schemes do not increase flooding downstream and can confirm that the scheme at Meadowhall has not increased flood risk to others.”