Flood action has made me feel safer

This is understandable following the horrific events of 2007.

Many lessons have been learned since then & thousands of pounds have been spent by the Council & Environment Agency to prevent a re-occurrence.

This sustained period of heavy rainfall has provided the first real test for the defences since 2007.

Since then: 

Ulley Reservoir has been made safe and has been consequently taken out of the equation.

Some of the drains have been widened to take more water. - Measures have been taken to prevent the drains from backing up from the river.

The walls of the flood defences have been repaired; where necessay. 

The manhole covers which were forced off by the sheer pressure of the water from below have been reinforced

And an emergency power supply has now been installed at Canklow Meadows Flood Regulator, which will enable the barrier to be raised in the event of a power failure.

Each of these were contributory factors to the flooding of Catcliffe in 2007.

Rotherham's new Flood Defence Scheme for the Town Centre will also have helped. Credit must also be given to the Catcliffe And Treeton Flood Action Group who are a small team of unpaid members of the local community, for their determined and tireless efforts.

Nobody can say it will never happen again but with the controls now in place I feel a lot safer in my home than many people around the country who were hit in June 2007.

Steve Ashton, California Drive, Catcliffe.