YP Letters: Encouraging woodland in hills to fight floods

FURTHER to Anthony Milroy’s suggestion that hill farming practices contributed to the recent flooding in the Calder Valley (The Yorkshire Post, February 1), perhaps it’s time to consider why we continue to heavily subsidise livestock production in the areas when they could be allowed to revert to woodland.

This would act as a greater sponge for the heavier rainfall episodes we can expect with a warmer climate. There’s no engineering solution to cope with that quantity of water in such a short time, and using a natural and environmental solution might be the better option over time.

From: Edward Grainger, Botany Way, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

IN order to look forward in hope, your recent special report on the floods – and open letter to the Prime Minister – should be essential reading for all in David Cameron’s Government.

This “look back in anger” supplement will, I know serve to unite residents, councils, agencies and voluntary organisations in a resolve to “turn the tide” when faced with the Government’s lacklustre response to help and assist with adequate finance.