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Floods were inevitable states council report
NOTHING could have prevented flooding during a “once in a lifetime” storm in Goole, according to a report published this week.
Even though four out of six pumps at the Carr Lane Pumping Station were not not operational for at least 45 minutes, the extent of the downpour meant that flooding was inevitable.
Around 500 properties were affected when nearly a month’s worth of rain fell in just two hours on the evening of August 3.
More than 2,500 residents provided details of their personal experiences as part of the report, for which East Riding Council joined forces with Yorkshire Water.
One of the worst affected areas was that around Millennium Way, off Hook Road, where properties were deluged by muddy water.
Publishing the report on Tuesday ERYC said the amount of rainfall was in excess of what a drainage system could cope with. “Therefore it is likely that even if the drainage system was ‘as new’ and operated to full capacity, there would have been significant areas of flooding.”
Nigel Leighton, director of environment and neighbourhood services said: “As a result of the resident survey, the council has become aware of areas where, even during significantly less intense storms, localised flooding occurs on a regular basis...and the council will ensure appropriate remedial action is taken by the relevant body.”
The investigation had, he said, made a series of further recommendations, including an overhaul of communication and incident response procedures, improvement works and further investigations with other flood risk management agencies in a bid to reduce the affects of future incidents.
Meanwhile Yorkshire Water has welcomed the report, stating it has already started working with ERYC and others agencies to start addressing some of the recommendations.
The company has agreed to fund a £275,000 study of the town’s drainage and sewerage systems to gain better understanding of how they work and help identify potential future weaknesses.
While welocoming the report, Andrew Percy MP, said: “It is important to stress that this is only the start of the process and the report in itself by no means provides all of the answers.
“One of the issues I saw on the day was the lack of communication between some of the bodies involved and I am therefore pleased that the report has come up with concrete recommendations to improve that in the future!
However, most important of all are the recommendations for a full drainage/catchment flood model to be developed. I am delighted that Yorkshire Water have agreed to fund the report and I will do everything I can to support this detailed modelling work to ensure that it starts as soon as possible.”
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Weather for Selby
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
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