FLOOD PLEDGE: SNAITH WILL NOT SUFFER

Published on 14th June 2007 in News

Snaith will be defended against flooding and will not be sacrificed to save larger cities upriver such as Leeds, members of Snaith Cowick Town Council were assured on Monday.

The Environment Agency (EA) gave a presentation at the Town Council's June meeting, at which councillors and members of the public were invited to raise concerns and ask questions about flood management in the area.

Stuart Jenkinson and Peter Holmes from the EA, based in Leeds, said they hoped to allay any concerns which local residents might have.

They described how they believed the river Aire should be managed over the next 50 to 100 years in response to climate change as part of a policy and action plan which extended to the whole of the river Aire catchment area.

One local resident expressed her anger at being unable to get more than one insurance quote on the house she has lived in for 40 years, because she lives on a flood plain. Mr Jenkinson said: "Likelihood of flooding is increasing due to climate change and insurance companies are becoming concerned." He added: "Unless the property is in a significant flood area companies should still insure. If you cannot get insurance, contact your MP."

Mr Jenkinson said the EA faced a decision on whether to defend at the river bank or move the defences further back as part of the long-term plan. This caused controversy with residents, who pointed out that if the banks were maintained regularly with banksmen, flood defences would not be needed.

Cllr Greta Laughton pointed out that it appeared Snaith was being sacrificed for bigger areas such as Leeds when it came to flood defence. Mr Jenkinson replied: "We are looking at the whole river and deciding what is the best way to manage it as a whole. We are looking at putting together a strategy plan and we are trying to seek people's views on draft policies.

"We have no intention to sacrifice Snaith by lowering flood defences, it will be down to climate change."

Residents expressed that they were 'frightened' and 'worried' about what was going to happen in the future, particularly after the serious floods of autumn, 2000.

It was also claimed that residents of Gowdall - badly affected in 2000 - face difficulty in getting planning permission because they live in a flood plain area, yet houses are currently being built on the same area.

When asked where he stood on development on flood-plain development, Mr Jenkinson concluded that the EA was opposed to it, unless for specific reasons. Mr Holmes stated: "We will continue to defend key settlements, so we will continue to defend Snaith."