Exclusive: Rising cost ‘could put pioneering anti-flooding scheme in doubt’

The project to provide additional protection to Pickering and the nearby village of Sinnington is seen as a blueprint that could be used for other upland communities across the country.

However, it has emerged that the cost of a £950,000 scheme to build earth dams to contain up to 18 million gallons of water from Pickering Beck is expected to rise considerably.

The design of the earth bunds (embankments) is having to be revised after engineers expressed concerns over whether the scheme would actually compound major flooding events.

The Environment Agency maintained that an exact figure for any additional costs has yet to be finalised, although senior officials will meet Ryedale District Council on Wednesday to discuss the problems.

Campaigners have claimed that any increase in the scheme’s cost could place its future in danger amid the massive cutbacks in public spending.

The project is being financed by £800,000 from the district council, a further £100,000 from the local flood levy and £50,000 from the Environment Agency.

But Mike Potter, a member of the programme delivery group, has expressed growing concerns that the cost could increase by as much as a six-figure sum.

Mr Potter, who has lived in Pickering for the last 10 years, is the vice-chairman of the town’s civic society and the spokesman of the Ryedale Flood Research Group.

He said: “Any increase in the costs could place the scheme under threat, especially at a time when there is very little money about.

“There needs to be real urgency to find any additional money that may be needed. If this projects fails, then it will be a real missed opportunity, not just for Pickering but the country as a whole.

“It has generated an awful lot of interest, and the principles could well be used as a blueprint for other upland communities which are in danger of flooding.”

The Slowing the Flow project in Ryedale was one of three schemes nationally which were awarded a total of £1m in Government funding in 2009.

The groundbreaking initiatives are using nature to combat flooding and represent a major shift from engineering solutions back to techniques such as planting new woodland to slow run-off.

A total of £700,000 is being used to finance other elements of the Ryedale project such as tree-planting and the introduction of mini-dams in the watercourses.

However, the embankments, which will stretch for more than half-a-mile at a height of 5ft, are seen as one of the key parts of the overall scheme.

The Environment Agency’s project manager, Lucy Huckson, maintained that she is confident that the scheme will become a reality.

A planning application is due to be submitted this week to the North York Moors National Park Authority and North Yorkshire County Council, which will both have the responsibility of deciding if the scheme should go ahead.

Planning permission has already been obtained for preparatory work, which is expected to start next month. The main construction programme of the earth dams is due to begin in the summer.

But Miss Huckson confirmed discussions will take place with the district council on Wednesday, although she declined to estimate how much the cost of the scheme could increase by.

She said: “We are having to compile some more information after issues were raised by a reservoir engineer.

“We have been asked to show that the earth bunds are safe, although this will not affect the planning application being submitted. But the additional design implications are likely to put extra costs on the scheme.”