THE Environment Agency is to produce a management plan on the way thousands of tonnes of clay will be transported to Pickering to build the mounds for the flood defence scheme north of the town.

It follows concerns by representatives of the town council, Ryedale District Council, Pickering Civic Society and Natural England at a site meeting at Newbridge where the mounds will be built as a key part of the “Slowing the Flow” project.

The defence scheme aims to hold back heavy rainwater flowing from the moors into Pickering which has suffered millions of pounds worth of damage caused by floods in recent years.

Coun Brian Baker, former Pickering mayor and the town council’s representative on the Ryedale Land Drainage Group, said that up to 35 loads of clay – each of 22 tonnes – would be transported from near Northallerton along the A170 starting this autumn.

He said a number of issues which had been raised, including potential ‘choke points’ at the A170 and Vivis Lane juntion, and along Park Street to Newbridge, in addition to the prohibition or restriction of HGV truck movements when children are going to and from schools in the town.

“A holding area for vehicles is being negotiated with the operators of Newbridge Quarry, Cemex,” said Coun Baker.

There were also issues from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway about HGVs crossing the line at Hunting Bridge, and the Environment Agency is in talks with the company to upgrade the crossing point.

Specially-trained Environment Agency staff will co-ordinate vehicle crossing and train movements, he said.

A draft management plan is being drawn up by the Environment Agency and will be sent to the town council for it to make its observations, said Coun Baker,