Farmers invited to discuss turning fields to marshland

The North East NFU has called the meeting to discuss the implications of the proposed flood risk management strategy for the River Hull.

The strategy has just been published by the Environment Agency and proposes a 100-year blueprint for managing the lower catchment from Hull to the Humber Estuary as well as the middle and upper catchments that extend beyond Hempholme.

Its publication comes three years after much of East Yorkshire was totally submerged beneath floodwaters after a month's worth of rain fell in just 24 hours. This seriously affected many farming businesses, with crop losses alone running into millions.

Given ongoing concerns about the Environment Agency and its approach to flood risk management, the NFU has arranged the meeting to give local farmers the chance to discuss what is being proposed and how it might affect them.

Laurie Norris, Regional Environment and Land Use Adviser with the NFU, said: "Over the last few years we have constantly raised with the Environment Agency the need to give a higher priority to watercourse maintenance as an important part of protecting both homes and agricultural land from the worst effects of flooding.

"One of the problems three years ago was the length of time it took for the water to subside and many farmers argue that this was the result of reduced river maintenance.

"Over time silt and overgrown banks have reduced the river's ability to get floodwaters away and our members believe it is crucial to reverse this policy.

"Our meeting has been arranged to give farmers the chance to have their say on what is now being proposed and we hope to see a good turnout."

The EA insists in its latest proposals that there are defences and pumping stations on the upper reaches of the river "which cannot continue to be supported".

It also suggests there will not be dredging of large tracts of the River Hull apart from tidal outfalls – as it believes this will not "significantly reduce flood risk".

The meeting will take place on Monday July 5 at the Beverley Arms Hotel, Beverley from 7.30pm. All NFU members are welcome.