PLANS TO FLOOD FARMERS' LAND DISMISSED

08:00 - 14 February 2008

Sacrificing farmland to reduce the risk of flooding in the East Riding has been condemned by a council review panel.

It comes after experts suggested deliberately letting swathes of rural land flood so that towns and villages would be saved, should flood waters rise again as they did in June last year.

The idea, mooted on several occasion by the Environment Agency, has been "rejected" by the East Riding Council Flood Review Panel, as members announced a summary of their initial recommendations at a meeting in Pocklington.

Many members of the farming community turned out at Woldgate College, as the seven strong panel discussed the findings of the past eight months of work.

Councillor Geoff Pickering told the meeting: "The panel reject the principle of sacrificing land for the purpose of saving urban areas."

The statement referred to the impact on the rural make-up of the East Riding. He also commented on behalf of the panel in view of planning policy.

He explained there had been a "serious systematic failure" in the assessment of the risk of ground water flooding and national planning policy was "over simplistic".

He also said Yorkshire Water should become statutory consultees on all developments.

The panel also highlighted other key areas where their final recommendations will be centred, including:

Clearer guidance is needed as to the responsibility for the drainage infrastructure - specifically the issue of riparian ownership.

The council should take the lead on all flood-related matters across the region, but include the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, Internal Drainage Boards, Natural England and riparian owners on the issue.

Councillor Laurie Cross, chairman of the flood review panel, explained how the meeting, held last night, was a summary and a completed review would be drafted before the end of next month.

This will then be passed on to East Riding Council's cabinet in April before being ratified by the council, thus becoming available as a public document in May.