A PROJECT to help prevent flooding in Pickering has been recognised in a national awards scheme.

Slowing the flow flood defence scheme was one of 12 projects nominated for the Civic Voice Design Award for the best designed new development nominated by communities in the country.

The scheme was put forward by Pickering and District Civic Society (PDCS), with the awards announced at a ceremony at the Central Hall Westminster in London.

The project won the Judge's Special Prize in the Public Realm category. They received a blue plaque, which was presented to Mike Potter, chairman of PDCS and Professor Sarah Whatmore of Oxford University - both part of the original Ryedale Flood Research Group (RFRG) study - by Griff Rhys Jones at a ceremony.

Mike said: "As befits a national competition, it was hardly surprising Pickering didn't win the first prize as the competition was extremely impressive.

"However, speaking with one of the judges, she was particularly impressed with the collaborative nature of the work between the community, academics and the various agencies and organisations involved and the fact that most of the funding came from local sources including Ryedale District Council, North Yorkshire county Council and local flood levy money.

"It was also heartening to have someone approach me after the presentations to say she was from Lincolnshire and that similar flood protection measures are being proposed for their area, which means the message about affordable natural flood management is gaining a foothold elsewhere, even if much of it will be driven by huge budget cuts to the Environment Agency.

"Although this has been a collaborative project with so many people and organisations playing a part, I would particularly like to thank all community and academic members of the RFRG, without whom none of this would have happened.

"Also the Environment Agency's Jeff Pacey, who was instrumental in turning ideas into reality by getting the Slowing the Flow scheme up and running, through to scheme manager Simon Marrington, Tom Nisbet from Forest Research and EA bund project manager Dean Hamblin for steering a tortuous course to completion and finally Jackson’s contractors for getting their hands dirty amidst all the copious talking."