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Snaith flood plan delay shock

Town councillors have reacted with dismay to news that there will be no decision on a second flood bank for Snaith for another two years.

At a meeting of Snaith and Cowick Town Council last week, members discussed a letter sent to town clerk Cath Hird in which Mike Dugher, an Environment Agency officer, said that a study into whether there was a need for a secondary flood bank to protect Snaith would take until 2010.

During this time consultation would take place with various parties such as the town council.

It means residents living in high-risk flood areas around the river Aire will have to wait almost two years before a decision is made - during which time they'll be keeping their fingers crossed that there is no repeat of flooding.

Town mayor Councillor Frank Townshend, who chaired last Monday's meeting, said: "This is basically saying 'wait until you have a flood and we'll see whether we should have a bank'."

Cllr Danny Hennessey said: "It's basically saying that there's no change in this area."

The Environment Agency has recently carried out a review of the Lower Aire cathchment area to assess the flood risk to nearby homes.

According to the agency, there are more than 300 homes in the wider area which are at risk of flooding.

However, town councillors reckon this is an underestimate - they say there are more than 300 homes at risk in Snaith alone.

There is currently only one flood bank in Snaith. On the other side flood protection has been provided by the Ings, a marshland area which acts as a flood-water run-off zone.

The revised Lower Aire Report will go out to consultation until 2010.

In his letter to the town council, Mr Dugher, team leader of the agency's Asset Management (Aire/Calder) department, said: "Until the study it is not possible to say whether or not there is a long-term need for a secondary bank to protect Snaith."

Published on 19th June 2008 in News.

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