Archive - Wednesday, 9 October 2002


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Complete misunderstanding

A BASIC and complete misunderstanding underpins two reports in the Gazette & Herald recently on progress on the Derwent flood defence scheme.

It needs to be known that the main part of the project is the £6m walls and earth works which are on schedule. The project is being put in place by the Environment Agency and its contractor, Interserve, and is going well.

Criticism over delays relates to the section of work being carried out by Ryedale District Council, which ties in with the main scheme but is separate from it.

The authority is responsible for building a pumping station for Mill Beck, which flows into the Derwent and is using its own contractors. It is this part of the project that has been subject to serious delay and leaves Welham Road exposed to the threat of localised flooding until it is completed.

On latest estimates, it looks likely to be late November and, as a result, we are urging the council to put resources into doing the work more quickly. Until the authority's part of the scheme is carried out it remains an Achilles heel in the much bigger overall defences.

HOWARD KEAL

Chairman Derwent Action Group

Norton

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, October 09, 2002