Advice for town’s high-risk flood areas

The 28-page booklets have been individually geared to at-risk areas in the borough contain advice and guidance about what to do before, during and after a flood, together with details of flood warnings.

High-risk areas have been identified as Aston-cum-Aughton and Swallownest, Catcliffe and Treeton, Dinnington and Laughton Common, Rotherham town centre, Rawmarsh, Swinton, Kilnhurst, Hooton Roberts, Wath-upon-Dearne and Whiston.

A general booklet has also been produced.

Rotherham Council’s emergency planning spokesman, Coun Richard Russell, advised all residents to get a copy of the booklet.

He said: “The authority and its partners have done a considerable amount of flood prevention works following the floods of June 2007 but everyone, particularly those who live in ‘high risk’ flooding areas, should be provided with the information in these booklets, which will help them to be better prepared for any flooding events in the future.

“They are full of useful information and are available at all local libraries and other public buildings.”

Since the 2007 floods Rotherham Council and the Environment Agency have undertaken a number of flood prevention works, as well as the flood alleviation works at Templeborough, and have begun preparing surface water management plans so that any future flooding events will not have such a devastating effect on Rotherham communities.

The council said flooding occurred as a result of the “overtopping of the Rivers Rother and Don or as a result of issues with surface water drainage”.

Electronic copies of the booklets are also available on the Rotherham Council website at http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/floods