It is true our Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy says it may be unsustainable to improve the defences as they currently stand in parts of this area. But we have commissioned some more detailed studies, the results of which are due in the spring of next year, and will be working with councils, politicians and communities alike to work out the best way to maintain a good standard of protection for as many people as possible.

On land valuation, we value agricultural land according to the guidance set out by Defra. This means we assess the cost of defending the land versus the return it provides to the country as a whole, not as a loss to individual farmers. This means we value land by the value of the crops it produces, less the cost of any subsidies from the public purse.

Having done these calculations, we tested our results using 2007 crop prices. Even using these different values it still wasn't clear that these areas are easily defendable. What this process did do was highlight the need for us to ensure we have looked at the full economic case in a careful way – which is what the further studies we have commissioned will do.

Mr Allott refers to what the Dutch would have done. The situation in the East Riding is much different to that in Holland. Two thirds of Holland is at risk of flooding in contrast to 10 per cent of England and Wales. In addition, Holland is much more densely populated than the UK, with even the least sparsely populated areas comparable to the population density of South East England, so the numbers of people protected are quite different.

It is important to remember that the Humber Strategy only sets out a broad policy for managing flood risk and that final decisions on protecting these areas of agricultural land won't be made for many years. Things could change dramatically in this time.

Finally, no I'm afraid it isn't realistic to be thinking in terms of a barrage across the estuary!

From: Tom Fothergill, Thornton le Clay, York.

THERE appears to be little evidence of the promised joined-up thinking when, on the one hand, farmers have to beg permission from Defra to harvest their crops from sodden fields, and, coincidentally, the Environment Agency proposal to inundate some of the most productive agricultural land in the country.

Ed Davey (Yorkshire Post, October 30), refers to Hilary Benn having to choose between "defending homes or farmland". Realistically, there is no option – destroy farmland and food production ceases; the population starves, therefore houses are no longer needed anyway. Obviously, the cheapest solution to his imagined dilemma would be to let the sea roll in, but what an awesome responsibility when the predictable consequences are an even greater reliance on uncertain supplies of imported food.

It is a sad reflection on current attitudes and resolve when neither the Government, councils or a number of the populace can comprehend the need to protect and preserve our productive landscape legacy, created at tremendous cost by enterprising people with little more than shovels, horses and carts and wind pumps.

Unbelievably, with access to enormous sophisticated equipment, we are prepared to sacrifice our inheritance because of budgetary restraints.

There is an old story concerning a child holding a handful of broken pottery, who announced: " You know the tradition of the priceless heirloom passing down the family for generations – well, this generation has dropped it!"

Can we hope for the sake of Mr Allott and his neighbours that the area around Sunk Island won't be?

From: Peter Bricklebank, Mill Lane, Foston-on-the-Wolds, Driffield.

I WAS recently invited to an Environment Agency gathering to hear their policies with regard to flood defences in the middle and upper reaches of the river Hull.

They appear to have decided that they will no longer
maintain the river banks as it would be uneconomic.

When good agricultural land is flooded due to exceptional conditions, it damages current crops and the land is affected at least for the following year.

I asked for details of how the Agency calculated losses due to flooding and was unable to obtain any factual information.

I was left with the conclusion that the Agency is told by this Government to concentrate its efforts on urban areas – could it be that the deciding factor is votes and not economics as far as agricultural areas are concerned?

The Environment Agency seems to be full of staff devising strategies and not enough people who are actually changing things by effectively maintaining our waterways.

At least they gave me a good cup of tea when I went to see them, but sadly I can't say much else in their favour.


Takeover that spelled the end for Tetley

From: Bob Nelson, St John's Walk, Harrogate.

HAVING had my first pint of Tetley's in 1943 (eight old pence a pint) it was very sad to read of the imminent closure of the brewery (Yorkshire Post, November 6) and also sad for the workers who will lose their jobs.

The brewery was doomed as soon as Carlsberg came on the scene, intent on producing a
brand beer that would taste the same in Weston Super Mare as it would in Dover or Newcastle-on-Tyne.

But all is not doom and gloom, we are surrounded by new breweries using local water and producing splendid beers. Daleside in Harrogate, Roosters in Knaresborough, Copper Dragon in Skipton to mention but a few.