07:00 - 28-July-2008
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: Ron Smith, left, of residents' group Burstwick United hands Ken Grant of Keyingham Internal Drainage Board a cheque for £2,000
Keyingham Internal Drainage Board (IDB) was handed the cheque by Burstwick United – a residents' group set up in the aftermath of the floods.
Now, the drainage board members will use the cash to help fund a detailed survey of the area by a Dutch consultancy company.
Ron Smith, of Burstwick United, handed over the cheque to Ken Grant, of Keyingham IDB.
Mr Smith told the Mail: “The Dutch engineers have already been across and surveyed the area and we are just waiting for the draft results.
“The money will go towards the total cost of the survey.
“Parish councils and East Riding Council have also helped fund the survey and this was our way of helping out.”
East Riding Council has already handed over a grant of £9,000 for the study.
The Dutch firm has visited Holderness, meeting the Holderness Flood Defence Group – which includes representatives of parish councils across the region – and the Environment Agency.
The teams exchanged information before the Dutch engineers returned to the Netherlands to complete their report.
Mr Smith said: “The Dutch are world leaders in land drainage, they know what they are doing.
“This survey should help us better understand what happened last year and more importantly what needs to be done to ensure the devastation that was seen across many Holderness villages never happens again.
“We are hoping between ourselves, East Riding Council and the Environment Agency we can work together so the region is in a safer position in the future.”
The money Burstwick United handed over had been collected during several fundraising days in the village.
