FLOOD-RAVAGED residents who ‘live in fear’ during every spell of bad weather have been reassured by Barnsley Council that they will be prioritised in a seven-figure project to save them from more misery.

Lang Avenue in Lundwood has been blighted by raging torrents of water in 2007, 2019, 2020 and 2023, but torrential rain late last month saw the nearby River Dearne raise to precarious levels again.

Although its normal depth at the closest checking station half a mile away from the street stands at just 0.08 metres, surges grew to almost three metres recently - less than half a metre of what it was during the two most recent flooding incidents.

According to Barnsley Council, whose engineers have been working alongside Yorkshire Water, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the Environment Agency through the ‘Connected by Water’ initiative, analysis of water flow was undertaken between 2019 and 2021 in the project’s first phase.

Phase two got underway thereafter, which focused on maintenance and improvement works to the existing network, while formal design works are being finalised for a drainage system, offering better protection to about 90 homes.

Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, said: “Barnsley Council recognises the serious and long-standing impact that flooding has had on homes, lives and livelihoods in this area.

“In response, we have prioritised Lang Avenue as one of our key flood resilience schemes and continue to work closely with partners, including the William Saunders Partnership, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, Berneslai Homes and SYMCA to deliver a co-ordinated and effective solution.

“Following extensive investigation and hydraulic modelling, a detailed design phase is now underway.

“This includes proposals to upgrade the surface water sewer network and improve highway drainage where flood risk is greatest.

“Maintenance works are also ongoing to ensure that existing drainage assets, including the ditch network adjacent to the Trans Pennine Trail, remain clear and functional.

“We are actively exploring co-delivery opportunities with Yorkshire Water, which has identified the nearby combined sewer overflow as a priority improvement scheme.

“This may allow for joint investment in infrastructure that benefits both flood resilience and water quality.

“In parallel, the council continues to deliver interim measures such as vegetation clearance and highway drainage maintenance to reduce the risk of further flooding.

“We are also working to improve communication with residents and will be updating our public webpages to provide clearer, more regular updates on the scheme’s progress.

“While the complexity of the hydrology in this area has meant the project has taken longer than initially anticipated, I want to reassure residents that we remain fully committed to delivering the Lang Avenue flood alleviation scheme and improving flood resilience for the community.

“Inevitably with schemes such as this there are periods of delay while design work takes place, but we will endeavour to keep residents up to date with what’s going on.

“I do want to reassure them that we are on with it and we will continue doing so.”

Coun Steve Green, who represents the Monk Bretton ward, urged the council to keep residents in the loop of the goings-on.

“They deserve more information and it’s important we get that out to them as soon as possible,” he added.

“I’ve witnessed three lots of floods and several near-misses, which obviously have had and continues to have a significant impact on those who live there.

“They’re on tenterhooks - as I am - every time it rains and they’re crying out for a solution.”