TOLL Bar has set up its own DIY flood warning team – to ensure that residents ARE left high and dry, if the levee breaks again!
Locals across the Bentley area were highly critical of the Environment Agency's lack of early warnin
gs in the flood disaster of July 2007.
Now Toll Bar folk have set up their own 10-strong team of flood wardens, to make sure that there is an early warning system in place, if the rains come again.
The volunteer group has started to take walks around the Ea Beck.
Members have also been on EA seminars, visited the council's Emergency Planning room and hoping to get more training.
Flood warden Pam Sutton was left living in a caravan at the bottom of her garden on the Manor Estate after the rains destroyed her home.
She said: "We were given hardly any warning to even put a few things in a bag, before we were flooded and everything was lost.
"That's what we want to avoid next time. We got together and decided how we could help others and ourselves.
"We're now working with the Environment Agency, Doncaster Council and the neighbourhood team.
"When we get warnings from the EA, we'll then go and knock on people's doors to tell them – giving them enough time to tell their family, get clothes together and get to safety if needed."
After getting back into her home last March, Pam is now looking forward to a warm Christmas this year!
She joked: "It is fantastic to be in our own home and with heating – what a bonus!".
The group has been set up by Toll Bar Tenants and Residents' Association – which itself was started by flooded-out locals Carol and Richard Bailey, both 61.
The Baileys set up the TARA to help and advise others – after becoming flood victims just six weeks after moving into their Villa Gardens home.
The group now meets in the community centre in Villa Gardens – itself recently re-opened following a flood refurb.
