Work starts on floods protection for village

A new drain is being dug below the bridleway on the old disused railway between Millers Brook and King Edward Street.

This is intended to take surface water from the ditches and drains west of the old railway and direct it to Stealgoose Drain.

A total of 17 properties in Belton were flooded in 2007, and of the 80 now at risk, 34 are said to be at risk of "significant" flooding.

The 320,000 project, funded by the Environment Agency, is being carried out by Clugston Construction on behalf of North Lincolnshire Council and is expected to be completed in 15 weeks.

Coun Bernard Regan, Cabinet member for highways and planning at the council, said: "It's great news for Belton residents who suffered badly during the floods.

"The work is needed to help reduce the risk of further flooding.

"I am pleased that the Environment Agency is funding the work, particularly at a time of national cutbacks.

"This means that we crack on with the scheme that will see a huge improvement and help protect properties from future flood damage."

He added: "This is a great example of the great work being delivered by the North Lincolnshire Flood Forum that brings together all the key agencies that deal with flooding.

"And it demonstrates the partnership that has been established with the drainage board."

The council is expecting to hear soon if it has been successful in a separate bid for funding for a scheme at Low Burnham.

The proposal is to control the flow of Burnham Beck by providing a flood storage area upstream of the village.

The agency has recently completed 3m of work to protect more than 450 homes in the East Riding.

This will reduce the risk of flooding in Hedon and Burstwick.