Resident lives in fear of flooding (From Gazette & Herald)

Resident lives in fear of flooding

A HOUSEHOLDER has told of his devastation when he discovered that his new dream home at Pickering might never be free from the threat of flooding.

David and Susan Glanville had only been living at Beck Isle Cottage for a matter of weeks when they were told earlier this month that the Environment Agency might not go ahead with proposed new flood defences.

The grade II listed building, which was built in 1790, is regularly inundated when the nearby beck bursts its banks, as happened in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

The couple's worst fears were confirmed last week when the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee decided not to approve the scheme, amid concerns over the estimated £6.7 million bill.

"We were absolutely devastated," said Mr Glanville. "It's our dream home, a beautiful building, and when we decided to buy it everyone thought they were going ahead with flood defences. Now we're living a nightmare."

Mr Glanville was speaking in support of the Evening Press campaign to Save Pickering From Flooding. Our petition calls for the Environment Agency to be given another two years to come up with an acceptable flood defence scheme.

It backs Ryedale MP John Greenway as he seeks a meeting with Floods Minister Elliot Morley to press for the town's "special case status" to be extended for two more years beyond March. The MP has warned that unless this happens, Pickering will fall too low down a priority list and have no realistic prospect of ever getting any defences.

Mr Glanville said the prospect of even waiting another two years for protection was too much to bear. He did not believe the current risk was high, despite recent rainfall, but feared a big storm on the North York Moors could force the beck to burst its banks once again in the summer.

He said he might attempt to take some direct action himself to protect his home, but feared local authority planners would veto such work because of the listed building status. "We are stuck between the two authorities," he said. "What can we do?"

He hoped that if the two-year reprieve was granted, the agency could come up with a scheme to help - even if it was just individual grants to help property owners protect their buildings.

Updated: 12:52 Thursday, January 22, 2004