When and what flood defences? (From Gazette & Herald)

When and what flood defences?

MALTON and Norton are to get their flood defences, but no one is quite sure when, or what they will be.

Environment Agency flood defence manager Peter Holmes says it will be at least October before a spade hits the earth. He expects the work will take 18 months to complete.

However, the Environment Agency still does not know what form the defences will take. Agency spokesman Sue Norton said it was too early to say. She said: "There have been suggestions, but they are not written in stone. We still have to go through all the processes, too, and have to speak to all the statutory consultations."

Floods minister Elliot Morley has sent word he is taking a personal interest in what happens in Ryedale and wants swift action. He has promised to rush through approval as fast as he is able.

Funding to launch the work was agreed last Friday, when the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee (RFDC), after two previous failures, set a budget. Although Yorkshire has the worst flood defences in the country, the RFDC voted a mere 10pc increase in flood levies from local councils, the equivalent of around 15p per month per ratepayer. The Environment Agency had asked for a 63pc increase, which dropped to 37pc after the Government awarded the region £4.4m towards costs.

David Ellis, who will stand for Labour in Ryedale at the next election, said: "I do not feel the present funding system is adequate and it needs to be reassessed and we need to look at how it is operating."

Ryedale MP John Greenway said the committee had been grossly irresponsible in not setting a higher levy. He warned there could be the same budgeting problems next year.

He said: "They have created trouble for themselves. There's going to be the same haitus when they have to find the money for the next two to three years to bring the work they will have already done this year to fruition."

John Greenway added that the success in getting Malton and Norton fast tracked was the result of 18 months of lobbying since the 1999 disaster.

The RFDC said that flood defences for Malton and Norton must be fast-tracked.

Environment Agency spokesman Spencer Vigness told the Gazette & Herald that Malton and Norton were made a high priority because they made the most noise. He said: "Malton and Norton and Gowdall in East Yorkshire were the big, high profile ones and attracted the most media attention. Some of the smaller schemes are going to have to go without money. They were very vociferous in Malton and Norton."

Peter Holmes said a range of flood defence schemes, including Stamford Bridge and Pickering, would be started this year as one big contract. However, he added: "If we start work on Malton and Norton flood defences by October we will be doing well."

Paul Tate-Smith, of Malton firm Sundella, said agency workers had been on his land testing to see where the solid base was, to use as the starting point for defences. He said: "They should have been able to go down about three metres, but they got to three feet and everything filled with water. They can't do anything until that water goes down. The defences are good news, but in the meantime we have got to wait."

Updated: 16:27 Thursday, February 15, 2001