Award for River Don flood relief scheme

A PROJECT to reduce the impact of flooding along the River Don in Rotherham has become the first winner of a new national award.

The £15 million Phase 1 section of the town’s flood alleviation scheme has won the Flood Risk Management Award at this year's Waterways Renaissance Awards.

The scheme and its Centenary Wetland Park— an aquatic nature reserve beside the Don—were also commended in the Natural Environment category.

The awards ceremony took place at the Lowry Gallery in Manchester on Wednesday.

Rotherham's rewards were collected by the Rotherham Borough Council's Cabinet member for economic development, Cllr Gerald Smith.

Cllr Smith said: "This is a significant piece of work within the £2 billion Rotherham Renaissance programme for our town centre and thid award is an acknowledgement of the sound approach that the team have taken to resolving the need to live with the river."

The project provides a one-in-100-year flood protection along a mile-long stretch of the Don.

Cllr Smith added: "We're creating the right conditions for new investment in areas yet to be boosted by the massive regeneration that's taking place alongside the river."

It was a partnership scheme with the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Forward, the EU's Objective 1 programme, contractors Volker Stevin, engineering company Jacobs, and the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham.