smaf_review_2014-2015.docx |
Over the last 15 months the SMAF group has been born and have actively put the flooding issues of South Milford on the map. On top of this they have actively campaigned for numerous preventative measures and engaged local companies and agencies to begin implementing these recommendations. This fantastic work and achievement is documented in the 2014/15 annual review of the group’s progress.
0 Comments
On Sunday 11th October the SMAF team as well as numerous local volunteers engaged in an activity to clear Whin Dyke. This dyke is ‘dry’ for most of the year and only fills during times of high rain levels or flooding. However, when this happens it is imperative that the dyke is clear from debris in order for the channel to effectively allow excess water to run off from surrounding roads and fields and pass into the High Street culvert. The dyke periodically gets full of woodland debris and this exercise was completed to remove dead trees, debris and other blockage material. Excellent effort by all involved which has now left the dyke free and able to perform its function more effectively when required! Please see here for an article in the Selby Times entitled " Yorkshire Water to help residents’ flooding misery in South Milford". A snippet from the article is below: It looks as though South Milford's flooding woes could be coming to an end as the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water have finally come to the rescue of the villagers who have been plagued by flooding for years. Over the past few months, the Selby Times has documented the fight by residents to get something done to safeguard the village from further flooding and, finally, it looks as though things are starting to move forward. The first steps to protect the village came nearly five weeks ago when two tankers appeared in the High Street with huge suction machines to remove debris from the blocked culvert. Stones and silt were removed from the culvert - which runs beneath the road for half a kilometre from the top of the village to the public park. Twice this year floods have brought misery to residents living in South Milford and have caused nearly £2 million worth of damage. For months the group 'South Milford Against Flooding' have been campaigning for more to be done to protect the village and its residents from these floods and it looks as though their hard work has finally paid off. ... South Milford Chair Richard Coy and NYCC Councillor Bob Packham met with NYCC Drainage, Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency on Monday 2 June 2014 to raise yet again the issue of flooding. Whether scientific or not this seems to happen every 7 years and the Parish Council understands that the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water are no closer to agreeing who is responsible for the culverted section of the beck as it runs under High St (apparently a very unique and legal grey area). At the meeting it was confirmed that NYCC have finally received approved funding to undertake a full strategic summary of South Milford and the surrounding area to review the liability of this section, the existing infrastructure (including the highways balancing ponds) and possible measures to prevent floods happening again. It was understood that commissioning of this review has been delayed due to lack of personnel resources at NYCC but the Environment Agency undertook to provide support. Unfortunately for some local residents, only 2 days later on Wednesday 5 June the build up of water at the entrance to the culvert at the junction of Hight Street and Wain Gap grew so large that the floods once again occurred. Although a number of houses may have been protected by the flood remediation work undertaken over the last few years, a number were damaged and the Village Post Office is temporarily closed for repair. There were around a five or six fire engines in attendance and water was pumped from the beck behind the Doctor's surgery on High Street to land behind the Swan pub. Many local residents continue to believe that the only solution to this regularly occuring issue is to either introduce storage tanks for exceptional quantities of water and/or increasing the capacity of the the culvert under High Street. We wait with interest the review commissioned by NYCC. Please see here for an article in the Selby time entitled "Flooding woes for residents of South Milford". This features quotes from SMAF member David Mitchell. A snippet from the article is below: Residents of the High Street in South Milford are still trying to dry out their houses after the recent double flood, with many wondering what the authorities are doing on their behalf to combat the recurring problem. MP for Selby and Ainsty, Nigel Adams, pledged his support to the campaign for better flood defences in the village last month and one resident, David Mitchell, is hoping that something will be done soon to help the village and the people living there. He said: "Councillors and officials put in an appearance and disappear. The Parish Council meeting on June 2 with North Yorkshire County Council Drainage Authority, Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency resulted in approved funding to carry out a full strategic summary." "It has been delayed due to lack of personnel resources - the process of delaying tactics commences. It is now September!" David [also] believes that the Environment Agency are partly at fault for the flooding issue as they have failed to carry out more regular inspections of the [village] channel[s]. He also said that Yorkshire Water could do more to unblock pipes and culverts in the waterways around the village. ... This page is designed to inform the community of South Milford about the ongoing work, progress and determination of the SMAF (South Milford Against Flooding) group. This group was formed as a lobby group to bring pressure and persuasion to bear on the appropriate bodies and responsible individuals to do whatever is necessary to make the village flood free. Please see below for regular blog updates on the progress of the group. |
CategoriesAuthorSMAF was formed as a lobby group to bring pressure and persuasion to bear on the appropriate bodies and responsible individuals to do whatever is necessary to make the village flood free. If you would like more information or would like to be involved please contact us using our contact section. Archives
November 2015
Links |