CALLS are being made to resolve long-standing sewage flooding in Norton.

Members of the town council have agreed to back a campaign for the improvements to help a number of properties and houses which continue to be affected.

Cllr Di Keal, a member of Ryedale District and Norton Town Councils, said: “I am asking Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) to work together to finally carry out a full-blow scheme to protect the properties in Norton that continue to be blighted by flooding.

“The flooding incidents are a direct result of the lack of capacity in the town’s sewers when the River Derwent is high, which leads to them backing up and discharging raw sewage into the gardens of nearby properties this is completely unacceptable in 2019.”

Cllr Keal said she welcomed the flood prevention work which has been carried out but a permanent solution was needed for the sewage issue.

“It is appalling that local residents’ gardens are being flooded with raw sewage. It is disgusting for homeowners and it is a health hazard, no-one should be faced with sewage threatening their homes. We urgently need a permanent solution.”

Cllr Ray King, the mayor of Norton, said he fully supported Cllr Keal.

“This is not something that should be happening in this day and age,” he said.

“We need to press for action as soon as possible.”

Cllr David Lloyd-Williams said the council should write a strongly worded letter to Ryedale District Council and MP Kevin Hollinrake, as well as Yorkshire Water and the county council.

“We need reassurances from them that action will be taken,” he said.

“More and more houses are being built in the town when we still have the Victorian sewers which cannot cope with the existing properties.”