The North East NFU has called a meeting of farmers to discuss the implications of the proposed flood risk management strategy for the River Hull.
The strategy has just been published by the Environment Agency and proposes a 100-year blueprint for managing the lower catchment from Hull to the Humber Estuary as well as the middle and upper catchments that extend beyond Hempholme.
Its publication comes three years after much of East Yorkshire was totally submerged beneath floodwaters a month’s worth of rain fell in just 24 hours. This seriously affected many farming businesses, with crop losses alone running into millions.
Given ongoing concerns about the Environment Agency and its approach to flood risk management, the NFU has arranged the meeting to give local farmers the chance to discuss what is being proposed and how it might affect them.
“Over the last few years we have constantly raised with the Environment Agency the need to give a higher priority to watercourse maintenance as an important part of protecting both homes and agricultural land from the worst effects of flooding,” said Laurie Norris, Regional Environment and Land Use Adviser with the NFU.
“One of the problems three years ago was the length of time it took for the water to subside and many farmers argue that this was the result of reduced river maintenance. Over time silt and overgrown banks have reduced the river’s ability to get floodwaters away and our members believe it is crucial to reverse this policy.
“Our meeting has been arranged to give farmers the chance to have their say on what is now being proposed and we hope to see a good turnout.”
The meeting will take place on Monday 5 July at the Beverley Arms Hotel, Beverley from 7.30pm. All NFU members are welcome.
No comments have been made.