Doncaster Mayor will ‘continue to push for more flood money’

The mayor, speaking at a meeting of the full council, said some people were ‘still struggling’ to get back to normality.

Councillors heard that a variety of flood mitigation projects had been completed and more were in the pipeline along the River Don, which burst its banks in November 2019.

The mayor said more resources were needed and noted she had co-signed a letter alongside South Yorkshire leaders and Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis calling on Government ‘plug the gap’ with an investment of £36m.

Devastating floods cost the council over £650,000 and the equivalent of 2,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools were drained away from one borough village alone every hour for 18 days.

The area had a month’s rainfall in a day which led to 51 road closures, 1,200 homes were evacuated and the council received 2,000 calls to its emergency helpline.

Figures show 80,000 sandbags were issued and 700 properties were flooded or deemed ‘unlivable’.

Mayor Jones said: “It’s been an awful time for many and we know many are still suffering one year on.

“My thoughts are with those who are still trying to get their lives back to some sort of normality.

“Despite the impact of the Covid-19 emergency, a significant number of work has been carried out already to prepare for whatever weather the winter months may bring to provide better support for our communities.

“As part of this work, a number of flood mitigation measures have been put in place by Doncaster Council, the Environment Agency, water companies and drainage board.

“We are committed to mitigate potential flooding, ensuring our communities are well prepared. We are better prepared and more resilient for when the time comes.

“I will continue to press central government for funding for further flood prevention across Doncaster and the wider Don catchment.”

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