Work underway on repairs to region's flood defences

Environment Agency workers are gathering information on the flood damage so emergency repairs and maintenance to flood defences can be carried out as quickly as possible.

They have already carried out inspections on the River Don and the River Sheaf in Sheffield and the River Don downstream of Doncaster.

Work has also started on measures to prevent further floods, including removal of fallen trees from the River Loxley, near Malin Bridge, and the River Don in Hillsborough. Similar work has also been done on the River Dove near Barnsley

The Agency is also reinforcing an embankment at Little Houghton washland, near Barnsley, after it was damaged by flooding.

At St George’s Bridge in the centre of Doncaster, an embankment on the River Don was damaged when water came over the top. Staff have temporarily rebuilt the defence and plans are being put in place for permanent repairs.

And the Environment Agency has installed a temporary flood wall at Newton Farm in Sprotborough after the collapse of the privately-owned flood defences.

Area flood risk manager Peter Holmes said: “Environment Agency officers are busy across the region assessing and repairing the damage caused by the worst weather Yorkshire has seen since 1882.

“We are concentrating our resources on those areas worst affected by the floods and prioritising work to ensure that emergency repairs to flood defences are carried out first to reduce the risk of further flooding.

“Our teams are also continuing the routine maintenance of the region’s watercourses by clearing blockages which could cause flooding. We are acting now to prepare for the future, however our changing climate means that flooding will become more frequent and everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves.“