ÌýUlley, just four miles south of Rotherham, was, until recently, a quiet sort of place, visited mostly for its country park, forty seven acres of rolling woodland set around a reservoir. Built as a vital water supply for Rotherham, this stretch of water has been, since 1986, a place of leisure and tranquillity for local people.
But when, on June 25th, the dam at one end showed signs of collapse, this quiet place became world famous. Three local villages were evacuated, the M1, a mile away, was closed, and local people held their breath, as engineers struggled to make the dam safe. A hundred million gallons of water were successfully held back, and the crisis passed.
But now, what happens to Ulley? Most media attention has turned elsewhere, but the reservoir is still at the forefront of many local people's thoughts. They're very protective of a place that's formed the backdrop to their lives, and with the future of the reservoir uncertain, they try to explain why Ulley Country Park matters so much.
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