Rotherham Council: 'Catcliffe wasn't sacrificed during Storm Babet'
We've been speaking to the Leader of Rotherham Council - Chris Read - four months after severe flooding hit the village
The leader of Rotherham Council claims some of the flood defences operated by the Environment Agency 'failed' during Storm Babet last October.
Severe flooding in Catcliffe has meant many have had to leave their homes - & four months on it's being described as South Yorkshire's Forgotten Village.
Chris Read tells us he wants justice for those affected:
"We know that some of the Environment Agency flood defences weren't operational during Storm Babet.
"That's clearly a big concern to all of us.
"They are operational now, as I understand it, but we will want to fully understand the consequences of that, because if that is what let residents down in Catcliffe, then there are some serious questions to be answered.
"There was water coming into Catcliffe that would've normally gone onto the flood plains at Rother Valley Country Park."
Meanwhile, Mr. Read has rejected suggestions that the flood gates were closed at Canklow to save Rotherham town centre - sacrificing Catcliffe in the process:
"Let me be really clear; that isn't what happened.
"That's not the way the decision making around flooding works.
"There is no process through which either the Council or the Environment Agency could sacrifice one community in order to save another one.
"It's just not how it works.
"The whole point of the series of flood defences along the river Rother is try to protect the communities there."
The Environment Agency sent us this statement in response:
“We know the devastating impact flooding can have and we understand the concerns of residents.
“Babet brought unprecedented rainfall – a month’s worth in less than 36 hours, with the River Rother at Catcliffe recording the highest ever river levels. The flood defences at Catcliffe were inspected after the event and they had operated as designed. Our focus is on supporting recovery in affected communities and we will continue to monitor flood defences in the area and carry out routine maintenance.
“We are also carefully considering what actions can be taken to further reduce flood risk in Catcliffe, working alongside local MPs and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. The public can sign up to flood warnings for free on: www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings .”