AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the cost of flood defences in Ryedale.

Council chiefs are currently looking at how much installing defences along Priorpot and Mill Becks in Malton and Norton will cost.

But it has emerged that an estimate for the defences submitted by consultants last year was massively under-calculated.

A more recent estimate submitted by the same consultants has seen the cost of the project soar.

The Environment Agency is currently building flood defences around the River Derwent. But responsibility for the adjoining becks lies with Ryedale District Council.

Coun Linda Cowling said she was outraged at the discrepancy.

"The implications of this could have been very serious," she said.

"We are using cash from our reserves to pay for this, but had we been borrowing the money we may have been in serious trouble.

"I would like to know exactly why there was such a massive difference in the two estimates we were given.

"I think we should review the consultants we use in the future."

Coun Charles Scott said he was aware that there had been a discrepancy.

"I think there was more work which needed to be carried out which wasn't realised at first."

John Davison, head of contract services, said the project had gone out to tender and as such he was unable to reveal the estimate figures or the consultants at the centre of the row.

But he confirmed there had been a significant difference in the two estimates submitted to the council.

"We have written to the consultants asking for them for clarification and an explanation as to why there was such a difference in the figures," he said.

"We have also put the project out to tender because we are keen to get a competitive costing."

He said it was unlikely the matter would lead to a delay in building the Mill and Priorpot Beck defences.

"This is because we have to wait for the Environment Agency to finish its work on the Derwent," he added.

The cost of building the defences, which will protect many homes in Scarborough Road, in Norton, is to be offset by Government grants which will pay for up to 40 per cent of the cost of the scheme.

Updated: 09:15 Wednesday, March 06, 2002