Flood barriers installed to protect Doncaster Covid vaccination centre

Defences have been beefed up around Dearne Valley Leisure Centre at Conisbrough amid fears of flooding caused by heavy rain from Storm Christoph.

The centre is one of a number of venues being used across Doncaster to administer Covid-19 vaccine jabs.

Yesterday, Doncaster Council works ringed the centre with flood defences in case the nearby River Don breaks its banks.

Flood alerts remain in place for the Lower Don, River Idle, River Went and River Dearne this morning.

The areas under threat are Barnby Dun, Bawtry, Bentley, Conisborough, Clay Lane, Fishlake, Kirk Bramwith, Kirk Sandall, Mexborough, Sprotbrough and Stainforth.

A Doncaster Council spokesman said: “There may well be flood warnings coming in the next 24 hours, so please keep a keen eye out for any further updates from us or the Environment Agency.

“We've seen some amazing teamwork again as the hard work continues across the borough to prepare for potential flooding.

“The temporary defence installations below were installed at the Dearne Valley Leisure Centre to protect one of our local Covid vaccination sites - a joint effort between Environment Agency field teams and council staff.

“We are continuing to call those who are clinically extremely vulnerable to check on their wellbeing and plans if they need to evacuate due to flooding.

“We are putting in place an evacuation plan which will cover information points, rest centres and the use of hotels should people need to be moved.”