WELCOME to our weekly column from your representatives on North Yorkshire Council.

This week Cllr Lindsay Burr, an independent councillor who represents Malton , gives her first monthly report for the Gazette & Herald on flooding issues.

A permanent solution is needed to solve the flooding at County Bridge Malton, Old Malton and Norton

The talking needs to stop and permanent action must be taken

Recently we have endured a total shambles on our local roads.

Collectively, residents, business owners organisations and our community stalwarts who work in our NHS and our fantastic care workers, have had weeks of frustration due to travelling during the heavy rains, this recent situation has been managed disgracefully and the sad fact is regrettably, it could have all been avoided.

Council officers only follow policy, which is led by Conservative policy. There have been a succession of road works which have been badly planned and coordinated.

There were road closures due to heavy rain. County Bridge was closed and impassable, cutting off both towns.

Traffic was redirected, but directions were not clear.

Traffic lights (which were not fit for purpose ) were used on Scarborough Road, due to re directed traffic due to road closures, causing massive tail backs.

And black boards was closed for far too long, due to late decisions regarding shifting the bollards that had been placed on blackboards to create a one way road system

Furry, anger and frustration was justifiably visible, especially at this busy time of the year.

Our traders lost vital Christmas trade and all this is all due to indecisive action and no long term planning and no long term investment.

All the above highways issues are the responsibility of the new North Yorkshire Council.

Yorkshire Water also needs holding to account! Raw sewage in gardens recently is deplorable.

The now de-funked, Ryedale District Council, was recently ordered by central government to hand over more than £7m to the new North Yorkshire Council.

Now it’s time to say to North Yorkshire authority, we need some of that money spending in Ryedale, and spending now.

Yes, I acknowledge that after a few weeks, roads have been opened and some councillors are patting themselves on the back, but this chaos will happen again and again and we will all suffer again and again, a long term flood solution is now the only way forward.

The flood defences did not fail, they held firm, but we must have permanent solutions.

For years and years non Tory’s have been calling for investment for permanent flood solutions and we must say no to drafting in all these pumps which are scattered everywhere and polluting the air.

The Conservative Council must invest, invest, and invest, and have a plan to give the towns the much needs reassurance it needs and deserves, to keep our towns functioning and moving during heavy rains!

Let’s implement a new flood risk management plan

Let’s have a strategy to have permanent pumps installed at Old Malton, Malton and Norton

Let’s invest in relocating the spring water under the road at Sheepfoot foothill to avoid closures of The County Bridge

Let’s raise the road at Sheep foot hill, this was successfully done a few years ago on Pickering Road so water is not standing.

Let’s not close Church Street again

Let’s look at slowing the flow and promote flood storage areas on land, there is also clearly a debate to be had to re look at clearing our rivers?

Let’s encourage the land to flood and compensate our farmers properly for this to happen.

2024 new year’s resolution must be -we deserve long term permanent flood solutions now