MP checks work on Pickering flood barrier

8:50am Monday 23rd February 2009

SHADOW minister for the environment Anne McIntosh visited Pickering for an update on the work on the town’s flood defences.

Pickering suffered badly during flooding in the summer of 2007, and Ms McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York, met town councillors and discussed briefings she has received since taking up the position of the Shadow Water Minister last month.

Ms McIntosh said: “I am delighted to see firm progress being made through the Durham University and Ryedale Flood Research Group’s project Making Space For People, working together with the enthusiastic co-operation of the local community in Pickering.

“I am absolutely convinced that these small dams with the planting of trees is the most practical solution to save Pickering from future flooding.

Ms McIntosh, who is the parliamentary prospective candidate for Thirsk and Malton, was confirmed in her position as a shadow environment minister by Tory leader David Cameron in January.

She said at the time: “I look forward to continuing to work towards a welcome and effective and sustainable water and waste policy for England.

“This brief is particularly important and relevant to the Vale of York, Thirsk, Malton, Pickering and Filey, areas which have so often proved vulnerable to floods.”

Earlier this month, Ryedale councillors backed the retention of £1 million in the authority’s budget towards a flood defence scheme for Pickering, even though the £6 million-plus project is low on the Environment Agency’s priority list.

Coun Howard Keal said: “We are continuing to stand by people in the town and as the Environment Agency investigates upland storage as an answer its way overdue for others to join us.

“Exposure to continued flood risk is stifling potential economic development in the town and putting the skids under investment that is more important than ever in a recession.”