Ulley Reservoir sparked a national emergency when it came close to bursting during the devastating deluge in June.

Dozens of firefighters and specialist engineers were brought in from across the country to prevent the dam collapsing.

If it had, hundreds of homes would have been washed away, businesses ruined and the entire electricity supply for Sheffield cut off.

As a result of the major operation to shore-up the 35-acre reservoir and dam, which is a popular sailing and fishing centre, Rotherham Council considered closing the facility.

But officials have decided to keep the water facility at Ulley Country Park open - and will be spending £2.5 million on it.

Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone, said his Cabinet was recommending the revamping of the reservoir because the costs involved 'meant it was worthwhile to keep such a fantastic amenity' for local people and visitors.

He said: "This has been a difficult decision. Obviously it would be cheaper just to drain it but this is a much-loved local amenity used by thousands and would be sorely missed."

In June the dam wall began crumbling under the weight of the unprecedented rainfall.

Work will include lowering the spillway installation. It was debris from the spillway that eroded a significant hole on the face of the dam embankment that needed emergency work over several days to stabilise the dam wall.

It will also include erosion protection to the embankment, the removal of redundant pipework, stabilisation of the bridgeworks providing vehicular access, the abandonment of the bypass channel and rerouting pipes. Further investigative work is required on the core of the dam wall, which will cost £35,000 alone.

Removing the dam wall would cost at least £1.5 million, leaving a waterless area of land with little amenity value. To then form a new amenity could cost £1.5 million.

More than 3,000 people signed a petition urging councillors to reopen and restore the park.

The Friends of Ulley Country Park group were worried permanent closure would mean the end of sailing, angling and other activities, many of which involve local schools.

Group secretary Barbara Littlewood said: "Before the floods we were trying to obtain finances and applying for grants for facilities that would not otherwise be funded. All this hard work has ceased since the park was closed."

Ulley Country Park campaigner Hilary Christie said: "We're over the moon. We're willing to do as much as needed to work with the council to get this facility as good as possible."

The reservoir has been closed since the floods. It is not known when work will begin.

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