MP to tackle Ministers over costly flood defence measures

Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh will criticise the Environment Agency in a Westminster debate after the costs of the Pickering scheme almost tripled to £3.2m.

The long-awaited project to protect one of North Yorkshire’s worst flooding blackspots was halted less than a month after Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman visited Pickering and paid tribute to the work to protect the town, which has endured major floods since the 1930s.

Today, Ms McIntosh will press Ministers about what can be done to revive the project to protect 60 properties by building earth embankments to hold back the water. The costs soared because strict regulations apply under the Reservoirs Act 1975 as well as the complex nature of the site.

“Local people are incredibly disappointed and feel very let down by the Environment Agency,” she said. “I shall continue my dialogue at the highest levels with Defra, the Secretary of State Caroline Spelman, the Environment Agency and of course, the people of Pickering.

“No-one wants the department to be remembered for delays, extra expense and fumbling in rural areas. I shall not rest until the Pickering pilot project is successfully implemented. We need action and we need it now.”

The Environment Agency has been accused of keeping politicians in the dark about the problems that emerged when the scheme needed to be classed as a Category A reservoir – the highest standard – because of the risk to public safety if it were to fail.

The Agency insists the Government was kept updated with developments to the scheme, which forms part of the “Slowing the Flow” project, heralded as a model to protect other communities by using natural resources such as tree planting to slow river waters.

Miss McIntosh will propose four options including drawing up a simpler scheme, finding extra money, re-considering the advice of engineers or waiving the reservoir guidance.