South Yorkshire Fire Service will maintain a presence in Toll Bar to assist in the clean up where they can. The primary roles of the Police in any emergency are to save life, co-ordinate the response and to protect property. They will remain on scene until the emergency is over, working with the Fire Service and Council, protecting the public, vacated properties and maintaining traffic control. The Council will provide support until normality is resumed. A community office is to be established in the area to provide easily access to advice and assistance from a range of agencies.
The flooding happened as a result of a persistent period of exceptionally heavy rain. It fell in a heavy and concentrated manner for most of Monday 25 June 2008. What was critical for Doncaster is that it also fell for a similar period of time in the Pennines, this resulted in flooding in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley before all that water got to Doncaster. A total of 88 mm (nearly 3 ½ inches) fell in Sheffield on the one day. The Environment Agency are able to remove some of the water from the river system by deliberately flooding pre designated areas of agricultural land before the flood reaches Doncaster however, these actions proved inadequate to deal with what was an exceptional event, last recorded in 1882.
The volume of water in Toll Bar was huge. The natural drainage system, which is pump assisted, failed. Pumping out of the area had to be done over very large distances and without the help of any natural fall. In the early stages of pumping, the Ea Beck was also very full and in flood. This did not help when trying to find a suitable point to discharge flood water. As the water levels dropped, the area covered by the flood reduced and therefore the rate of fall in water level increased.
Once the power supplies are returned to an area, St Leger Homes (the Council's managing agent)and the utility companies are undertaking gas, electrical and health and safety checks as appropriate before advising residents it is safe to return. In some cases where damage is severe we will have to await the outcome of full structural surveys before making a decision.
Yes within reason, as we do not have an unlimited supply of property the Council has an allocations policy in order to prioritise applicants but every effort will be made to match peoples needs with the existing resources.
Each landlord will make their own arrangements. The council are still assessing the extent of the financial impact and will write to all tenants in the near future. In the meantime we ask that if possible you maintain rent payments on your home and contact St Leger Homes to discuss individual circumstances and hardship cases.
This will depend on the tenancy agreement signed by the tenant. Please speak to your landlord and seek independent advise as appropriate. If you have a council tenancy managed by St Leger Homes you will still pay rent on your main home, but you will not be liable for the cost of temporary accommodation which will be covered by the council. In the main this will be more expensive than the council rent. We will happily discuss individual circumstances and hardship cases on request.
This will depend on the tenancy agreement signed by the tenant. Please speak to your landlord and seek independent advise as appropriate. If you have a council tenancy managed by St Leger Homes you will still pay rent on your main home you, but you will not be liable for the cost of temporary accommodation which will be covered by the council. In the main this will be more expensive than the council rent. We will happily discuss individual circumstances and hardship cases on request.
Due to the fact that the severe flood warning has only just been lifted and some properties are still flooded it has not been possible to quantify the exact extent of the housing issues i.e. the numbers affected and the condition of the properties. Some people have not been in rest centres having opted to stay with family and friends etc and they have not as yet advised the council of their needs, if any, for support.
St Leger Homes are accessible 8.30 to 7pm on the repairs contact centre number 08081263123. After hours this number will connect with the 24hour emergency service.
If you own your own home and are insured your loss adjustor will arrange for a structural survey to be undertaken if needed. If you are a tenant it is your landlords responsibility to ensure your home is safe.
CE Electric and St Leger Homes as appropriate
Transco and St Leger Homes as appropriate
Now recovery has begun we are working with the community to establish their needs and desires in relation to housing, options as follows: -Some people will be assessed as being able to return to their homes if their house is unaffected (e.g. where precautionary evacuation has taken place) -Some people whose properties have minimal damage and some damp will be assessed as requiring assistance with drying out/clean up/replacement furniture but will be able to move back in shortly. For those people assessed as requiring temporary accommodation we are looking at a number of options which include - Continued use of the Earth Centre and supported accommodation - Caravans on the estate car parks, adjacent fields or on driveways of properties where appropriate. - Private sector housing - St Leger Homes - Bring sheltered and other properties into use - College campus accommodation - Permanent re-housing will also be considered if appropriate and where housing stock is available
Doncaster Council are helping with the clear up. There are teams currently assisting with this and will continue to do so. Flood damaged items will be collected free of charge from domestic properties. Residents should telephone 01302 736000 or call in to a Customer Service Centre to request this. A list of damaged items and their location need to be given. Residents who have insurance need to be aware that their insurers/loss adjusters may need to see the items before they are disposed of.
Skips will continue to be provided by the Doncaster Council in flood affected areas for domestic properties. However, residents’ insurers may also provide skips as part of their claim.
Royal Mail customer services desk have told us that mail will be held at the local sorting office until it can be delivered to the correct address, or it can be collected by members of the public between the hours of 10:00 – 13:00 Monday to Friday. Residents must take identification with them.
Mail for Toll Bar is still being stored at Sorting Office at Middlebank but mail for some of the other areas may now be getting through. Residents can call the sorting office on 01302 552600.
Residents can make full use of computer/Internet access free of charge at any Library or Customer Service Centre, it does not have to be their local one. If they are not currently registered as a library user, they need to take identification with them. They need to provide one form of ID with their name and address on for partial membership. A second form of ID with their signature on is required for full membership. If identification has been damaged in the flood, residents can still visit a Library/Customer Service Centre and every effort will be made to help.
Residents can also make use of courtesy phones in the reception areas of all Council Buildings for internal calls.
