Meeting fails to stem flood fears (From Gazette & Herald)

Meeting fails to stem flood fears

FLOOD victims have been left disappointed after a face-to-face meeting with agency chiefs failed to bring about the first positive steps to prevent another deluge in their rural North Yorkshire homes.

Worried residents of Kirkby Mills and Keldholme, near Kirkbymoor-side, met with Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, North Yorkshire County Council and Ryedale District Council bosses to demand action be taken to stop the River Dove flooding.

Residents were swamped with flood water laced with raw seweage in October 2000 and August 2002. On February 1 this year, they were threatened with saturation for a third time.

It was decided at the meeting at Kirkbymoorside Recreation Club, which was attended by about 50 residents, that a Flood-watch scheme should be set up, where Keldholme resident Brian Hughes would notify the Environ-ment Agency, which would, in turn tell residents, if there was a flood threat.

However, Kirkbymoorside Town Mayor Nigel Richardson organised the meeting so firm flood prevention plans, not damage limitation measures, could be organised.

"I'm not very optimistic at the moment," he said. "Everything seems to be down to budgets, plans and models. The people of Keldholme and Kirby Mills aren't getting any positive answers, so I'm feeling a bit dejected.

"I did say that I couldn't make them promises. With the amount of people who turned up, and with the strength of feeling shown at the meeting, hopefully the agencies will realise that there is a problem which they'll go back and consider. I won't hold my breath."

Andrew Jackson, catchment manager for Yorkshire Water, said improvement work would be carried out on two sewage overflows at Kirby Mills.

Peter Renshaw, district surveyor and engineer for the county council, said the authority had £70,000 earmarked for spending in the Kirby Mills area to replace under-sized pipes and work would be completed by March.

Coun David Cussons, who represents the Kirkbymoorside area on the district council, said the Mill Race was due to be taken over by the Environment Agency. He said a clear-out of the River Dove had not taken place for some 40 years, adding that the flow was being obstructed because of rubbish and trees.

Matt Smith, operations manager for the Environment Agency, said maintenance work would be carried out along the main river channels, including weed and tree cutting.

Updated: 11:01 Thursday, May 20, 2004