MPs to make flood plea to Parliament
Two of the area's MPs, Greg Knight and Graham Stuart, are concerned the Government is not giving the issue high enough priority.
The pledge to take the matter to Westminster was made when they met anti-flooding campaigners and East Riding councillors in Beeford this week.
It comes after East Riding Council threatened to take the Environment Agency to court over its plans that would see large areas left prone to flooding.
East Yorkshire MP Mr Knight said: "What the agency is offering amounts to benign neglect of the countryside.
"As the area's MPs, we support the council's stance on this very important issue, even if it means going to the High Court in London to try to stop the plans.
"We will be pressing the Government to speed up the introduction of the promised Floods And Water Bill, which we would like to give greater protection to properties from flooding."
Mr Knight and Beverley and Holderness MP Mr Stuart said they would seek amendments to the long-awaited Bill if it did not go as far as they wanted to protect East Yorkshire from future flooding.
Support from the MPs has been welcomed by new campaign organisation the Brandesburton and North Frodingham Flood Action Group, which has complained about the agency's lack of consultation on the plans and organised meetings to discuss the matter.
Deborah Merchant, of the action group, said: "It is great to have the MPs and council on board because we are going to need all the help we can get to fight the agency's plans.
"Agency officers seem willing to listen to our concerns, but their hands appear to be tied when it comes to making any changes.
"This is a huge issue for the East Riding and the group will be stepping up publicity to get more people involved in the campaign."
Under the plans, low-lying agricultural land would be used as "water storage areas", which would mean in times of flooding and heavy rain, parts of the countryside would be used to hold flood water from rivers and streams.
Maintenance of flood defences would be withdrawn and land that frequently floods would be submerged in a bid to protect property and other areas.
The council has written to the agency to ask for "proper consultation" on the plans, stating it will seek a "judicial review" if they are introduced.
Councillor Jonathan Owen, deputy council leader, said: "We want to do what we can to help residents in our wards who will be affected by the agency's proposals."
