K.J. Voase and Son,
High Baswick, Brandesburton,
Driffield, East Yorkshire.
YO25 8LZ
Tel/fax: 01964 542477
30th April, 2008
Ewan Larcombe, 67, Lawn Close, Datchet. SL3 9LA
Dear Mr. Larcombe,
I enclose the dredging (not) leaflet produced by E.A. I think that it deserves a place on your website so that everyone can marvel (or weep) at the fact that the E.A. find it necessary to spend their time and our money on producing such propaganda. I also enclose a photograph taken on 26th January, 2008, of a dredger working in Hedon Haven where it flows into the River Humber, east of Hull.
Do we believe the leaflet or is this dredging just another example of the E.A. not talking to themselves?
I write as a farmer whose land was badly affected by the East Yorkshire floods of June, 2007. 200 acres of growing crops were flooded, some to a depth of 3 feet after the torrential rain in June, 2007. We recorded 11 inches of rainfall from 13th to 30th June. On the 25th June, 4½ inches of rain fell on to already sodden land and full dykes. Our problems were caused by water pooling onto low land because earlier rainfall was still held up in the drainage system. Water could not flow away quickly enough through the overgrown and silted Holderness Drain. The system is pumped but water was flowing backwards and as a result our flood levels rose for the next 10 days and we still had flooded crops 4 weeks later. We estimate our losses, which included 50 acres of potatoes, to be in the region of £200,000. We were not alone, many of my neighbours suffered similar losses and more than 60 houses in my nearest village were flooded some to depths of 4 feet.
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council established a Flood Review Panel and heard evidence from all affected parties and to date the panel has verified that 30,465 acres of farmland and 6,240 properties were flooded. Their findings are due to be published next month.
The flooding was also an ecological disaster, something which is often overlooked. The water in our dykes turned black caused by a stagnant, stinking cocktail of dead and decaying animals, fish, worms and vegetation – all the things that the E.A.‘s policies are supposed to protect. The irony of the situation is that all this devastation was caused by the E.A. because they have neglected their waterways for 20 years, all in the name of conservation, despite repeated warnings from the Beverley and North Holderness Internal Drainage Board.
I do believe that flooding to farmland for a few days is acceptable if it prevents rural and urban housing being affected but this floodwater must dissipate quickly so that land is ready to accept more rainfall if necessary. The floods must not be allowed to remain for weeks, as happened in June, with the resulting misery that is still being endured by many householders in East Yorkshire and Hull.
Farmland must be kept in good order, especially now as the world suffers food shortages. Flood plains are some of the most productive land that we have. I have a friend who says, "land is precious, they stopped making it a long time ago". To abandon land which has been farmed for 2,000 years (we have found stone age round houses and tools) and drained for 800 years, is pure folly and is a disservice to our children. I think we can and must learn from the Dutch – for a second time.
My husband gave evidence to the East Yorkshire Flood Review Panel, has given several radio interviews, appeared on local television news, and featured in several newspaper articles, he also attended the EFRA committee hearings in Lincoln with the NFU delegation, and met Sir. Michael Pitt when he toured East Yorkshire. Dr. Stuart Burgess, the Rural Advocate and Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities visited the farm as did the Duke of Gloucester and Toby Willison, head of E.A. in the north east. We have tried to keep the importance of the need of maintenance to drainage systems in the news.
Keep up the good work.
Yours sincerely, Margo Voase
Photographs below:
Water level on damaged crops Dead fish left after floodwater subsided Dredger at work?