Ryedale’s MP ANNE McINTOSH launches her monthly Gazette column with a highly pertinent local issue

WE are now back in Parliament following the summer recess, although the House was recalled in August because of the rioting in London and other areas of the country.

The highlight of the first week back for me was leading the debate on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee’s Future Flood and Water Management Legislation report. I was able to raise our local flooding issues as well as insurance, farm land and reservoir safety.

Flood and water management issues are close to my heart. North Yorkshire was one of the regions most badly affected by the 2007 floods and the need for flood defences here is very pressing.

I pay tribute to the people of Malton and my predecessor, John Greenway MP, for their hard work in securing flood defences for the town, and it is essential that we now do the same for Pickering.

We were all shocked and disappointed to learn in June that the Pickering flood defence scheme would now cost an additional £2 million due to the requirements of the 1996 guidance to the Reservoir Act 1975, which meant work was unable to commence.

For the first time, partnership funding has been introduced this year. This is a means by which local councils and the local community can invest in a local scheme which will benefit the local community. Ryedale District Council has made a substantial contribution towards the Pickering Pilot Project. Owing to the project being delayed, it is to be hoped that this money will not be foregone.

The original plan for Pickering is now on hold as we await the outcome of the Defra review of the 1996 guidance. I sincerely hope the guidance will change as a result of the review, but this could take months and we have no guarantee that this will be enough to save the Pickering project.

The Slowing the Flow Project Board is taking action to explore the option of creating smaller flood storage areas, rather than large reservoirs to hold flood water. This would remove the costs involved in meeting the safety requirements of a larger reservoir, but there would be many environmental challenges and planning difficulties which may mean this option is unfeasible.

The Board is also looking at whether other land management improvements, such as the planting of trees, could reduce flood risk.

I hope that by the beginning of October we will have a clear timetable for the Defra review. I shall not rest until the Pickering Pilot Project is successfully implemented.

Lessons to be learned from the Pickering Pilot Project are that we should look for the most natural form of flood protection rather than over-engineered costly projects.