New moves underway to reduce residents’ floods risk

MOVES ARE underway after years of campaigning to better protect flood-hit communities across parts of North Yorkshire.

Malton, Norton and Old Malton are among areas hit by major flooding over the past decade which has ruined homes and livelihoods and cost millions of pounds in damage repair.

Now, action is being taken around flood pumps, while residents in 150 households have been contacted over options for funding to make their homes more resilient.

The infrastructure scheme will see moves to ensure flood pumps can be deployed quicker, with new brackets installed, pipework and hard standing.

Coun Keane Duncan, leader of Ryedale District Council, said: “Residents of Malton, Old Malton and Norton can rest assured that when any flooding occurs, the equipment in place will help us deal with it effectively.”

County Coun Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton and Old Malton at district and town level, has long campaigned for work to begin.

“The scheme will provide huge benefits for local residents and cannot come soon enough,” she said. “At last, this much-needed project will be delivered.”

Households deemed as highrisk have been approached over a flood-resilience scheme which could see funding of up to £5,000 for alterations.

The property level resilience (PLR) scheme aims to identify measures that would help reduce the impact, such as flood barriers for doors, and waterproof coatings for walls.