'DREDGE RIVER HULL TO EASE FLOODS'
08:00 - 22 October 2007
Dredgers could return to the River Hull as part
of new proposals to clear the city's key waterway.
Calls are being made for the amount of silt in the river to be
reduced to ensure levels are safe when water is pumped into it
during heavy downpours.
Excess surface water is currently pumped directly into the river
at Kingswood.
During the June floods, the river did not break its banks, but the city's Tidal Barrier was lowered seven times to protect the city.
Now, with Yorkshire Water planning to increase its pumping capacity into the river, Councillor John Nicholson, chairman of the council's environmental scrutiny commission, called for action.
He said: "The silt in the river is higher than it was 20 years ago.
"The first reason to dredge the river is to alleviate future flooding, but another plus would be to have water taxis.
"There is no doubt we have neglected the river. Dredging would be expensive, but it's got to be done because the state of the river is a disgrace.
"Clearing the silt would not only reduce the risk of the river overtopping, but it would also encourage more rivertraffic.
"I can't remember the last time it was properly dredged."
A recent one-off dredging on a similar-sized river in Swansea cost £1.5m and removed 65,000 tons of silt.
Planning councillors recently agreed to call on the city council's cabinet to consider the idea of reintroducing a regular dredging regime on the river.
City council leader Carl Minns said: "It's an issue worth looking at, but it is important to remember there was no overtopping on the River Hull during the floods, so it worked as it should have done."
A council spokeswoman said: "Dredging of berths and wharves is the responsibility of the owners of the land along the riverside.
"As recently requested by members of the council, we will look at the issue of dredging the river as part of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment."
Thousands of new homes are due to be built in Kingswood over the next 15 years, putting extra pressure on the city's surface water drainage system.
And hundreds of new homes will be built on the banks of the River Hull, as part of the multi-million pound Boom development.
Tim Rix, managing director of Rix Petroleum, said the firm's fleet of river barges that use the river to transport diesel were struggling with rising silt levels.
"It would be a good thing for us if it was dredged," he said.