Consultation launched over flood defence plan
Yorkshire WaterNew measures to improve flood resilience in a Doncaster suburb have been proposed.
A consultation is under way over improved flood defences in Scawthorpe, following repeated flooding incidents and ongoing concerns raised by local residents.
Yorkshire Water and City of Doncaster Council said under the plans, they would introduce sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) to temporarily store rainwater and release it at a more controlled rate.
Encouraging residents to take part in the consultation, deputy mayor Glyn Jones said: "We understand that flooding is a concern for the public, and these proposals will help tackle the issue in one of our most regularly affected neighbourhoods."
The council and Yorkshire Water have proposed the construction of three attenuation basins in Scawthorpe, which work by collecting and temporarily storing storm water.
That water is gradually released at a controlled rate, slowing the flow of storm water and preventing flooding.
'Nature-based solutions'
According to the authority and Yorkshire Water, such basins were effective in managing surface water run-off during prolonged rain.
They were expected to be dry most of the year, but would be planted with appropriate species that tolerated occasional flooding.
Eve Pierrepont, resilience partnership portfolio manager at Yorkshire Water, said: "Nature-based solutions such as SuDS provide an effective tool for flood management as well as creating a thriving habitat and encouraging biodiversity in local communities."
Residents were encouraged to share their thoughts on the proposal by completing an online form by 12 April.
The planned works in Scawthorpe are part of a larger effort to tackle surface water flooding in urban areas via the Doncaster, Immingham and Grimsby project.
In addition to Scawthorpe, the scheme is also being implemented at Clay Lane in Doncaster, where a similar consultation took place in 2024.
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
