Major project to fix flood damage that has left a whole section of Doncaster river bank at risk

But now a £1.6 million repair operation is underway to fix the damaged flood defence embankment near Doncaster town centre, which was struck by last November’s floods.

The embankment, which lies between the River Don and the South Yorkshire Navigation canal at Mile Thorn, Wheatley Park, suffered from damage before and during last winter’s floods which devastated parts of Doncaster.

The bank slip could be at risk of destabilising the whole river bank if it is left unrepaired, according to the Environment Agency.

The work is expected to be complete by August and is part of an overall £32 million package of repair works across Yorkshire.

A 42-tonne excavator has been transported to site using a pontoon, to help with the start of the repair works. Barges are being used to transport materials in to repair the bank. Rock bags in engineered bays will be used to make the bank more resistant to erosion.

Access to the site is restricted, so the Environment Agency has worked closely with Doncaster Council to set up a site compound near the site, and the Canal and River Trust has helped workers access it from the canal so that equipment can get to site safely.

Tony Hartley, project manager at the Environment Agency said: “This work is a significant repair job in difficult conditions, which will help strengthen this flood defence bank and reduce the risk of flooding to the local area.

“We’re making good progress and we’re working within strict Government guidelines to carry out this work safely.”

There are multiple repairs needed in the area but the most significant work is where the bank has slipped. A programme of works is also in place to make repairs to other defects along the river banks.

The November 2019 flood left parts of Bentley and Fishlake devasted, with many residents forced to leave their homes.

The Environment Agency has checked 650 kilometres of flood defence embankments across South Yorkshire and identified over 100 individual repairs that are required at a cost of £12.8 million, protecting around 6,000 properties.