Councillor calls for River Hull to be dredged

Fresh calls have been made to start regular dredging on the River Hull.

It is claimed that silt levels are at an all-time high – increasing the risk of flooding.

They come as a major study on water management issues across East Yorkshire is about to be commissioned as a direct result of the 2007 floods.

Although there was no serious overtopping of the banks of the River Hull two-and-a-half years ago, many believe regular dredging is needed to increase its drainage capacity in the event of heavy rainfall.

Speaking at a city council environment scrutiny commission, chairman Councillor John Nicholson said levels of silt in the river were at an all-time high.

"The silt is six feet higher than when I used to navigate barges down there, while the silt at places like Paull is unbelievable," he said.

"It makes sense to me to reduce the current amount of silt in the River Hull to allow it take a lot more water."

Philip Winn, the Environment Agency's Humber Strategies Manager, acknowledged: "There is a large amount of silt in the River Hull and the Humber but the agency is not convinced that attempting to de-silt it would be fundamentally important in relation to the management of flood risk.

"ABP does dredge the Humber in certain places and, as it stands, I do not envisage any work going on beyond that."