Council Leader - relief that flood threat appears to be over but need for long term solutions more urgent than ever

Flood sign

The Leader of Rotherham Council has expressed relief that the threat of substantial flooding in the borough appears to have abated for now and has thanked those behind the efforts to keep people safe.

He has also urged the Government to step up and fund flood defences to end the anxiety and damage to lives and livelihoods caused by flooding.
 
Councillor Chris Read said: “There is a massive sense of relief that Rotherham appears to have emerged from this week’s threat of flooding without suffering significant problems. Although we all must remain vigilant to the danger of weather conditions deteriorating again.
 
“While there has been disruption to local public transport, a number of road closures and the Covid-19 testing site at Forge Island was shut as a precaution this week, we are thankful that no residential or commercial properties were flooded and that evacuations have not been required.
 
“The Council put considerable resources into protecting homes in high-risk areas, with the deployment of around 3,400 sandbags, pumps and more than 100 staff on the ground to increase the resillience of residential areas and provide advice and reassurance to residents. I am immensely grateful to all the staff from the Council and other agencies involved in this around-the-clock effort to keep our residents safe.
 
“I know the threat of flooding continues to provide huge anxiety and stress to communities throughout Rotherham. It’s not right that the crippling impact it has on lives and livelihoods should still be hanging over us every time there is significant rainfall.
 
“Working with our partners across the region, we are continuing to lobby Government for the funding urgently needed for comprehensive flood defences we need. Without the investment required, I fear we will remain stuck in this continual cycle of worry, reaction and getting by each winter when what we are crying out for is the certainty, security and protection that our communities should expect. The Government has listened but now it must act.”

Published: 21st January 2021