MP inspects Torne River breach

2 July 2007

Don Valley MP Caroline Flint today praised the response of the Environment Agency to the breach of the Torne which dislodged a 2 foot diameter steel gas mains that serves Sheffield and Rotherham.

Ms Flint saw first hand the work begin to place 500 tonnes of boulders, which will be compacted with clay, to fill the 30 metre breach in the Torne River bank near Lindholme.

Said Ms Flint: "The Environment Agency have responded quickly and with great professionalism to the danger posed by breach of the Torne River. Repairing the breach is dangerous work and it is being accomplished with great expertise."

Experts warned that damage to the gas main would threaten gas supplies to Sheffield and Rotherham.

Due to the heavy rains, the breach in the river bank poured three quarters of a million cubic metres of water into neighbouring fields, quickly rising to over 4 feet in depth. With the earth already saturated with heavy rain, the pressurised gas in the steel mains caused the pipe to float to the surface, creating the threat of damage to the pipe.

Said Ms Flint: "Over a distance of several hundred metres the gas pipe can be seen floating on the surface with the soil and grass covering still visible on top of it."

Ms Flint later met workers filling sandbags and organising transport at the DMBC North Bridge Depot. "The work of staff and volunteers has been non-stop to meet the demand for thousands of sandbags and polythene sheeting. The depot gives the impression of a military-style operation." Staff from the Council and St Leger homes have been supported by volunteers including from the Young Offenders Institution and from local churches.