FLOOD UPDATE

 

FROM THE BRANDESBURTON AND NORTH FRODINGHAM FLOOD ACTION GROUP (BNFFAG)

 

February, 2009

 

As you may be aware, the Environment Agency (EA) are working on the River Hull Flood Risk Strategy and in this area of the River Hull, they are suggesting that they may not be able to continue with maintenance work and that they will decommission the pumping stations and are proposing to have a flood storage area at Leven Carrs. The reasoning behind this is purely financial. The EA have chosen not to put funding into this area to continue with current measures which have worked very well for many years and can work for many years to come.

 

We believe that these proposals are flawed – information used to create a ‘model’ for the development of the proposals is incomplete and out of date and not enough consultation has taken place with people who live in and work here, look after the land and waterways and know the area better than anyone.

 

We believe this strategy will leave people, houses, businesses, roads, schools and farmland in a large area along and stretching out from the River Hull Corridor at risk from flooding – the E.A. have predicted considerably higher levels than 2007.  It will not just affect farmland near the River but also the surrounding villages and hamlets.  Remember summer 2007?

 

We also believe that in the long term, residents and businesses in Hull will be at risk from flooding from the drainage system which takes water from the River Hull Catchment area down to the River Humber.

 

So, what are we doing?

 

The BNFFAG is working closely with Councillors Evison and Owen and we have the full support of East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC).  ERYC has made it clear to the EA that the consultation process is inadequate, timescales are too short and they are prepared to take legal action if necessary and ERYC is setting up a group to represent the communities in opposition to the EA’s plans; the BNFFAG, other local action groups and the local Parish Councils have representatives on this group.

 

We have also met with our local MPs, Greg Knight and Graham Stuart, who are fully supportive of us and are totally against the EA proposals.  Graham Stuart secured an adjournment debate in the House of Commons before Christmas and both MPs are raising parliamentary questions and lobbying Ministers and colleagues.

 

Our public meeting in Beeford in November drew around 300 of you, attracted valuable media coverage and demonstrated very forcefully to the EA the strength of local opposition and the will to mount such a campaign.

 

We have contacted organisations such as NFU, CLA, IDB, the utility companies, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, universities, legal bodies and many others.  We would appreciate you writing to any people or organisations you think should know about the proposals, urging their support in any way they can and adding their influence to our campaign.  The more letters these bodies receive, the better. Do not presume that they have been informed or consulted about these proposals as we have unearthed an alarming lack of communication.

 

P.T.O.

 

We have featured heavily in the media – local, regional and national press, local radio and TV and are continuing to take every opportunity we can to reach a wider audience and get the facts across as we firmly believe them.  We are still battling to overcome some people’s unawareness or complacency.

 

We are continuing to do research at all levels – technical, legal, academic, geological, social and historic - to obtain supporting evidence.  This will be used to present our case to the EA and others in a professional and reasoned manner.

 

 

So, what can you do?

 

Please write letters of opposition – they do make a difference. Say you totally oppose the Environment Agency’s proposals for the River Hull area - tell them how it would affect you, your family, your business - and urge them to take action against this strategy.

 

Write to your MP –

 

Graham Stuart MP or Greg Knight MP at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

 

Email your MP – Graham Stuart at graham@grahamstuart.com

 

    Greg Knight at secretary@gregknight.com

 

Write to your local Ward Councillor for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Beverley HU17 9BA or email them at conservative.group@eastriding.gov.uk

 

You can write to the Environment Agency at Phoenix House, Global Avenue, Leeds LS11 8PG or email the Project Manager at richard.hartley@environment-agency.gov.uk

 

Contact your local Parish Council as they are also very much involved in this action.

 

 

We need to gather evidence of how this is going to affect you.

 

Are you a householder, do you work in this area, do you operate a business here?  If so have you considered the following?

 

            What would the value of your property be, should this happen?

 

            Will you be able to insure your property, or could you afford the increased premiums?

 

            How would you cope if your water, electric, gas or telephone supplies were affected?

 

            Have you considered the effect flooded roads and railways will have on your daily life?

 

 

If you are concerned about any of the above and/or you are worried about the impact that this is going to have on your health, particularly your stress levels and mental wellbeing, please let us know.

 

 

 

 

Jackie Gombault, Deborah Merchant, Lesley Nicholson, Sally Conner, Margo Voase

On behalf of Brandesburton and North Frodingham Flood Action Group

 

 

 

BRANDESBURTON AND NORTH FRODINGHAM FLOOD ACTION GROUP (BNFFAG)

 

Please let us know. 

 

We are building a portfolio of evidence and information to support our case against the Environment Agency’s proposals. 

 

We would like you to record your personal concerns.

 

You can do this by writing on this sheet and leaving it at one of the Post Offices in Brandesburton, North Frodingham, Beeford or Leven. If you have more evidence, e.g. photos or documents, that you would like us to have please include copies.

 

We are looking for your support as everyone in the communities around here will be affected. You may think your concerns are trivial, but be assured all views count and all concerns will be listened to.

 

 

Name …………………………………………………………………………………..

 

 

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please return to us via the post offices in Brandesburton, North Frodingham, Beeford or Leven.