AFTER years of bitter criticism, the Government is allowing the Environment Agency a big increase in funding so that it can tackle flood-risk areas in Yorkshire. Two communities in the Yorkshire Dales will see particular benefit: Ripon and Stainforth.

The agency revealed yesterday that its funding for flood defences had been increased by 20% from £35million to £42 million this year and the Yorkshire Flood Defence Committee is expected to announce a major new works programme when it meets today (Thursday).

One of the biggest projects will be the start of a £11.7 plan to protect areas of Ripon which have long suffered regular inundations. Says the agency: “Ripon has a history of flooding due to its location at the junction of the Rivers Skell, Laver and Ure, with significant floods in 1982, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2007. With formal planning for flood defences already approved by the local authority, the extra money this year will fund detailed design work in the first step of the construction phase for the £11.7million Ripon project that will eventually protect some 500 properties.”

Forty-year-old flood defences will be replaced at Stainforth – but there was no mention of work on Eller Beck, which threatened to flood the centre of Skipton last year.

For more information visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk