Huge increase in flood defence spending for Yorkshire
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Author: |
Rob Walsh |
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Date published: |
9-Apr-2008 |
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Keywords: |
The Environment Agency today announced a 20% increase in flood funding for the Yorkshire region, rising from £35 million last year to over £42 million for 2008/09.
The funding has been secured for a host of Environment Agency flood defence projects set to be endorsed by the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee (YRFDC) tomorrow – including work in Selby, Stainforth, Bentley Ings, EA Beck, Wakefield and Ripon.
The £42 million fund from the central government’s grant-in-aid budget, comes in addition to the local levy works being considered by the YRFDC tomorrow – with investment amounting to more than £1 million.
Environment Agency Regional Director Toby Willison said: “This is a very significant increase in funding and vitally important to the Environment Agency’s flood defence maintenance and construction program.
“While flood defence funding across the country has increased by around ten percent this year, Yorkshire and Humber has been able to secure a twenty percent increase.
“Given the impact of flooding in Yorkshire over the past year, these projects will improve the resilience of a number of communities by reducing the flood risk to thousands of homes and businesses.”
Proposed flood risk management projects in Yorkshire include:
Selby – completion of river and tidal flood defence works
Selby is at risk from both river and tidal flooding, with floods occurring in 1947, 1982, 1995 and 2000. During the 2000 flood, 150 residential and industrial properties were flooded with damage exceeding £10 million. Improvements to flood defences began in Autumn 2004, with the final phase to include works to the bridge at Selby (due for completion in June) and the Selby Lock floodgate (due for installation in November). 2,515 properties will have reduced flood risk.
Stainforth – replacing old flood defences
With Stainforth flood defences around 40 years old, they need replacing. High priority works are underway, while the remaining portion of the 2km long defences is set to received funding to be replaced. This work will reduce the risk of flooding to 1,935 properties.
Ea Beck – improvements to flood existing defences
Following the summer floods refurbishment works need to be carried out to flood defences along the River Don immediately up and downstream of the Ea Beck outfall. In addition, improvements to a
160m section of flood defences near Newton Farm is earmarked for work this summer. This work will reduce the risk of flooding to 2,000 properties.
Bentley Ings – new flood protection for electricity sub-station
The electricity sub-station at Bentley Ings was flooded in the summer 2007 event, preventing the pumping station from operating. The proposed works may raise the sub-station to the height of the Don Barrier Banks (thus elevating it out of the flood level) and improve safe access to the site during flood.
Wakefield (Ings Beck) – new flood defences and flood storage area
Flooding from Ings Beck has occurred on numerous occasions, the worst in recent times being in 1983 when 450 properties were affected. This proposal will create of two flood storage areas, new flood defences and raising existing defences. The scheme will reduce the flood risk to 1,200 properties.
Ripon – first step in construction process of £11.7 million scheme
Ripon has a history of flooding due to its location at the junction of the Rivers Skell, Laver and Ure, with significant floods in 1982, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2007. With formal planning for flood defences already approved by the local authority, the extra money this year will fund detailed design work in the first step of the construction phase for the £11.7million Ripon project, that will eventually protect 458 properties.
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