Flood plans news through your door

MORE than 1,000 newsletters have been delivered to East Riding villages to urge residents to oppose controversial flood protection plans.

The move comes as final proposals are drawn up by the Environment Agency to manage flood risk on five rivers in the region.

Under the plans, low-lying agricultural land would be used as "water storage areas", which would mean in times of flooding and heavy rain, parts of the countryside would be used to hold flood water from rivers and streams.

Maintenance of flood defences would be withdrawn and land that frequently floods would be submerged in a bid to protect property and other areas.

Now, members of the Brandesburton and North Frodingham Flood Action Group have produced a newsletter asking residents to fight the plans.

It is being hand-delivered to people in villages including Leven, Brandesburton, North Frodingham, Beeford, Brigham and Kelk.

In the letter, householders and businesses are urged to write to their MPs, East Riding Council, parish councils and the agency to voice their opposition. Deborah Merchant, from the group, said: "We have delivered more than 1,000. A lot of people are very concerned.

"We feel the proposals may have disastrous consequences for both rural and urban areas."

Leven Carrs is one of the areas earmarked for water storage under the agency's flood protection plans for the River Hull. There are also schemes being prepared for the rivers Aire, Derwent, Don and Ouse.

Responses from the newsletter are being collected at Post Offices in Brandesburton, Leven, North Frodingham and Beeford.