Flood action group 'overlooked' in talks on river management

The agency has two weeks to run on consultations over its proposed River Hull Flood Risk Management Strategy, which aims to manage the flood risk over the next 100 years.

It says it cannot continue to maintain pumping stations at Wilfholme, Hempholme or Tickton as they do not operate when the river is high and therefore do not meet Government funding criteria.

The Hull Flood Action Group believes failure to maintain the stations would put miles of low-lying land at risk, including the city of Hull, and wants the agency to reconsider.

Group member Martin Voase, who farms at High Baswick, near Brandesburton in the East Riding, said: "Our biggest concern is if they withdraw maintenance from these pumping stations the water table in this area will inevitably rise over the whole River Hull catchment area.

"They say it will only be local to the pumping stations, but that's not right.

"We believe a rising water table will therefore affect Hull, Beverley and many villages who will be at risk of secondary flooding.

"It won't happen overnight; it's something that will creep up on us."

The group has raised its concerns about not being listened to with Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, who called on the agency to honour its commitment to take the views of those with local knowledge of the land on board.

Mr Stuart said: "The consultation period for the flood management strategy is coming to an end and I was alarmed to hear there were still some very real concerns from those who live in the constituency about the way things have been handled.

"I, like the River Hull Flood Action Group, have had many meetings with the Environment Agency (EA).

"I have been assured local knowledge from the internal drainage boards and landowners, who have often seen flooding over many generations, would be used during the consultation period.

"I have immediately contacted the EA to find out why members of the flood action group feel their views are not being given due consideration."

He added: "The group is well aware of the funding difficulties faced by the EA, but they appear right in thinking that the relatively modest sums which should be spent in rural areas would have a major impact in protecting the urban area of Hull downstream."

The agency says funding for the three stations, which are on the "middle Hull", will be limited to 240,000 over the next 20 years, equivalent to only two years' running costs.

Other critics of the plans include East Riding Council, which said they were "unacceptable" in a report earlier this month.

The National Farmers Union said there was a growing "chorus of dismay" over the proposals and said it also feared other pumping stations in Yorkshire could be axed.

The agency's Hull strategy manager, Thomasin Meadley, said: "We have a continuing and open dialogue with the flood action group.

"We plan to meet the group before the end of the consultation period to pick up on any outstanding concerns.

"The strategy is currently in draft form and public consultation is an important part of the process to create the final document."

The consultation will end on Friday, August 13. The draft strategy can be viewed and commented on via the agency's website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/riverhullstrategy.