'Flooding our farmland makes no sense'
Friday, November 14, 2008, 07:00
Plans drawn up by the Environment Agency to manage flood risk in the East Riding include proposals to use low-lying agricultural land as "water storage areas".
Now, residents living along the River Hull corridor have formed the Brandesburton and North Frodingham Flood Action Group (BNFFAG) to fight the plans.
The proposals would mean in times of flooding and heavy rain, parts of the countryside would be used to hold flood waters 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Maintenance of flood defences would be withdrawn and land that frequently floods would be submerged in a bid to protect property and other areas from being hit.
Members of the group have organised a public meeting with agency officials to be held on Monday, November 24, at the Beeford Community Centre, Main Street, Beeford, near Driffield, at 7pm.
The proposals would affect land around Leven, Brandesburton, North Frodingham, Beeford, Brigham, Kelk and Driffield.
Farmer Martin Voase, of Inn Carr Farm, Brandesburton and member of BNFFAG, said: "We believe this area must be kept drained and dry. Flooding areas to save others does not make sense because if we have heavy rain, where will it go?"
The proposals are part of the Environment Agency's flood protection plans for the rivers Aire, Derwent, Don, Hull and the Ouse, which all run into the region.
A spokeswoman from the Environment Agency said: "We have been discussing these plans and holding meetings with residents about these plans for some time.
"Nothing is set in stone as yet and we will listen to any comments made at the meeting, which will then be fed back into the process."
22/12/09 - East Riding floodplain plans ditched (Hull Daily Mail)
27/11/08 - 'Farmers can plug riverbanks' row (Yorkshire Post)
26/11/08 - Fears of farmland losses (Farmers Weekly)
25/11/08 - Flood plan set for attack in Commons (Yorkshire Post)
14/11/08 - Farmers spearhead move to oppose flooding plans (Yorkshire Post)
