News: Rotherham’s scheme wins approval from Environment Agency

The Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee has praised the rapid progress on one of the most important flood alleviation schemes in the north of England. The £14m first phase is still on target to complete this summer, and supports the town’s massive regeneration plans by protecting many sites earmarked for re-development under the Renaissance programme. Jacobs is the scheme designer and contract project manager and Volker Stevin the main construction contractor. Committee chairman Jeremy Walker said after visiting the operations: "We see this as a great example for the future. We are delighted to be part of the project, and to be working in partnership with Rotherham Council and others to enable regeneration to take place, which is vital to the South Yorkshire economy." The council’s strategic director for Environment and Development Services, Karl Battersby, said: "It should be a welcome relief for Rotherham’s business owners and residents to know that by completing this first phase, already the scheme will protect a one-kilometre stretch of the River Don, resulting in a one-in-100-year flood protection standard. The next priority is Phase 2. This includes the planned removal of the Don Bridge, a major obstruction to flows in the river. It causes increased height of flows during flooding and backs up past the Tesco supermarket one kilometre upstream and beyond the Guest & Chrimes site."
Rotherham Renaissance website

Sheffield Telegraph article

The Star website
Rotherham