I REFER to your news item relating to the work being undertaken by the Forestry Commission at May Moss, on Fylingdales Moor. This should not be presented as part of any plan to protect Pickering from flooding.

May Moss straddles the watershed of the Moor. Drainage from this area is almost all north into Eller Beck, and thus into the Esk at Grosmont. Some flows in a north-easterly direction to join the head waters of the Derwent. A very little runs south-west into Havern Beck, below the Saltergate escarpment; there to be joined by flow from other parts of the catchment, including chalybate springs. It never causes a raging spate, as is confirmed by a local landowner.

What is done by the Forestry Commission is their affair. The peat-building scheme on May Moss is strongly commended by the Campaign to Protest Rural England. However, any future inference that funds spent on this activity, or works undertaken in connection with May Moss might contribute to the protection Pickering would be false. Please keep this in mind when any party attempts to pass this off as a flood protection measure.

Let us remember this when costing flood protection for the town.

JOHN LINDLEY, John Lindley, CPRE