South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 23 May 1942

Tide Up At Bolton

Dearne Board “Stuck” at Mill Weir

Some indication of the natural obstacles to be overcome in redeeming flood land in the Dearne Valley area was forthcoming at a meeting of the Dearne and Dove Internal Drainage Board at Wombwell on Friday when it was stated that at Bolton-on-Dearne the river was only 48 feet above sea level.

This fact was mentioned by Mr. O. B. Edwards (Dearne), who criticised the policy of the Ouse Catchment Board in suspending work in that area. “I am disgusted to think we have a problem like this to-day,” he said.

The Chairman (Mr. A. T. Thomson, Wath), said the fall in the river at Bolton was only one in fifteen hundred, which meant “stagnation.” and Mr. H. Charlesworth (Wombwell), said there was evidence on his land at Wombwell that this was once a tidal river.

The Board expressed “deep regret” at the decision of the Ouse Catchment Board to take no action In the matter of Bolton Weir for the present.

Inspection Sequel.

The Drainage Board had requested the Catchment Board to exercise compulsory powers for the removal of the weir, and the Catchment Board had replied in the terms referred to above. This decision followed an inspection by representatives of the Catchment and Drainage Boards, together with representatives of the County War Agricultural Executive Committee, and the Catchment Board Engineer.

The Chairman said they were up against the old trouble. The Catchment Board did not wish the flow of water to be hastened until they had carried out certain works at the low end of the Don, and the Engineer agreed. The work at that point was going on very rapidly, and they hoped to have it completed by next winter.

The Catchment Board had stated that they were quite prepared for the matter to raised again at that time, so It was really a postponement for twelve months.

The Chairman said he had ascertained that £1,500 was to be expended on improving the river on Bolton Road near the railway crossing. He thought the intention was to straighten out the river near one of the arches which at present was blocked.

Mr. Edwards said the river travelled three-quarters of a mile farther than it would If it were straightened. These had been certain deviations and alterations but no improvement in the real sense and they had been suffering for forty years to his knowledge. If the Ouse Catchment Board were justified in the policy indicated then Bolton were entitled to complain about the effect of improvements higher up the stream.

Captain C M Clegg (Barnsley), complained of the futility of the Inspection. He said: “What is the good of traipsing round the country in that way? No one was introduced to anyone, and no one knew who represented whom. All you could do was to buttonhole someone, hope he was a member of the Catchment Board and endeavour to preach salvation. You then discovered that he was nothing of the sort and agreed with you from the start.” (Laughter).

Captain Clegg said this was a heaven-sent opportunity of presenting their view to the Catchment Board and endeavour, but all they could was walk round and eventually go away without the faintest idea of what was being done.

The Board unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Captain Clegg deeply regretting the decision and pressing the Catchment Board to proceed immediately to acquire the rights so as to be in a position to carry out the work on the completion of the other undertaking lower down the stream.

Cleaning Of Dykes.

Correspondence revealed that the Dearne U.D.C. had agreed to contribute £20 towards the cost of cleaning Thurnscoe Dyke and Carr Dyke from sewage pollution. The Clerk to the Council wrote stating that this was agreed to “merely as a satisfactory method of getting the dyke cleaned out.”

The Clerk (Mr. K. M. Walker), had written explaining the terms under which Darfield Main Colliery Co. would be permitted to install a pumping plant at the Dove stream, and noting with satisfaction that this had made it possible to remove a dam which the company had constructed. He explained that the Board could not be responsible for the loss of water a consequence of any works carried out by the Board higher up the stream. The company had written asking that due notice be given of any such intention.

Flooding Near Station.

The Engineer reported that complaint had been received from the War Agricultural Committee about flooding of land near Wath station from North Dyke due to the high water level in the settling ponds belonging to Manvers Main Colliery Co. Colliery company officials were interviewed and It was learned that nothing had been done, and that nothing was likely to be done at present owing to the difficulty and cost of carrying out the work In wartime. It was pointed out by the officials that a large proportion of the silt in their settling pond came down North Dyke from another source.