TWO flood grants have been approved for at-risk areas of Ryedale.

Members of Ryedale District Council’s (RDC) policy and resources committee approved the grants, of £9,144 for Malton and a second of £2,827 for Brawby, at its meeting last Thursday,

The grants were established following a scrutiny review in 2016, when RDC investigated options for supporting local communities before, during and after flooding events.

Councillor Steve Arnold, chairman of the grants working party that recommended the grants for approval, said: “Flood grants are one of three grants programmes operated by the council aimed at supporting communities to develop local solutions and resilience.

“Members were pleased to be able to support the town council and parish meeting applications and look forward to receiving further applications from groups around Ryedale.”

A spokesman for Malton Town Council said: “We have selected a mobile pump suitable for residential areas in Malton and Old Malton and we plan to deploy it in the event of a localised flooding, working with other agencies to select the most appropriate location.”

Meanwhile, surveying of the historic routes of drains has been taking place in areas of Old Malton.

Old Malton was recommended for a comprehensive study as part of plans announced in a report two years ago produced by Arup, on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) and its flood partners. The survey is being undertaken by consultants WSP Leeds.

Councillor Martin Dales, Malton Town Council’s member for floods, who also lives in Old Malton, said: “It was very pleasing to see some action on this 2015 report and particularly to try to alleviate the problems caused in Old Malton by inadequate drainage from the over-flowing of road drains, springs and becks which continues to plague the residents of Old Malton.

“I do hope that this surveying, coupled with Yorkshire Water’s mapping of its own drains,

will lead to some solutions for the village which is a conservation area and needs looking after.”

It is understood that the surveying will also take in parts of Malton and Norton.