ENVIRONMENT Secretary Hilary Benn has been urged by MP Anne McIntosh to think again on the allocation of funds for flood defences , after schemes for Pickering, Thirsk, Sinnington and Filey failed to get help.

Miss McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York, Shadow Environment Minister, and prospective parliamentary candidate for Thirsk and Malton, said she was “bitterly disappointed” that North Yorkshire has lost out on potential flood grants, even though the county has been one of the worst affected areas in several floods since 2000.

Miss McIntosh said: “By failing to allocate floods grants to North Yorkshire, Mr Benn, has shown blatant disregard for rural areas.

“Having designated £9.7m out of the total £16m to big cities like Leeds, Hull and Nottingham, I make a plea to him to allocate some from the remaining amount to those rural areas most in need, like North Yorkshire.

“Such grants should be spread fairly between urban and rural areas,” said Miss McIntosh, who this week wrote to Mr Benn asking him to review his decision and to now allocate funds from a potential £5m pot to the North Yorkshire schemes.

“I am also writing to the leaders and chief executives of Hambleton District, Ryedale District and North Yorkshire County Councils to urge them to apply for the outstanding funds available.”

The £9.7m has been awarded to 77 local authority areas showing risk and potential impact of surface water flooding.

Local authorities in all other areas will be able to bid for a share of £5m to help them deal with known local flooding problems, with an emphasis on innovative proposals for tackling surface water flooding especially in rural areas. In addition, £1m will be spent on making training, data and other tools available to help all local authorities manage flood risk.

Miss McIntosh’s pleas coincide with moves by the Ryedale branch of the Council to Protect Rural England (CPRE) to carry out a detailed study of the cost of the 2007 flooding at Pickering and Sinnington.

Spokesman, John Linley, said its findings would be used to develop a cost-benefit analysis in relation to the long-term flood proection of the market town. “There is no all-inclusive document that covers the complete costs involved in the clean-up operation and the aftermath of a flood,” he said.

The study findings will be presented to Mr Benn, The Environment Agency, Association of British Insurers and Ryedale District Council,.

Mr Linley said help was needed to complete the study from the businesses and householders involved. A website has been set up, http://cprenorthyorkshire.org.uk, where information can be left.

People do not need to give their name or provide evidence of their losses, he added.

Mr Linley said: “This is an important project that will have far- reaching consequences for Pickering. Without the full picture of the costs, there is a possibility that the long-term decision may not be a favourable for the town.”