Sheffield councillor calls for 'climate change wardens' following last year's floods

Coun Shaffaq Mohammed says there is a lot of community spirit during snow and floods and a scheme should be set up where people can volunteer to be wardens and help out.

Coun Mohammed is the leader of Sheffield Liberal Democrats and was a Yorkshire and Humber MEP until Brexit day on January 31 this year, when the United Kingdom officially left the European Union.

He rescued a dozen people who were stranded at Meadowhall during the floods last November and spent until the early hours driving them home. He took one family with children, parents and grandparents as far as Doncaster.

“The Lib Dems introduced snow wardens years ago but we would like to extend that to floods and have climate change wardens because we know there is a lot of community spirit when we have severe weather.

“In November I heard about people being stranded at Meadowhall. My son was working near there and asked me to come and pick him up so once I had driven out to him, I knew certain roads and routes were open.

“I wanted to help and had a car boot full of soft drinks and crisps, as I help run a youth club, so I handed those out then offered to give people lifts home.

“I went as Shaffaq, not as a councillor, and said to security I’m not here to start organising anything, you tell me how I can help, whether that’s making cups or tea or giving adults lifts.”

He was joined by two other friends who gave lifts as well.

“I took people home to Tinsley, Darnall, Kimberworth and Adwick in Doncaster. I gave about a dozen people lifts and did the trips until about 2am.

“There’s a lot of community spirit but it needs some direction and climate change wardens could be a big help.”