News - Flood Defences

The Environment Agency has recently released plans for flood defences for the Riccall Area.

The Agency completed works recently on a scheme at Riccall Ings that maintained the required defence standard of the river embankment following mining subsidence.

There are two further projects in the Agency's programme of scheme works planned for Riccall Ings in the period 2002/2005 Riccall Ings Outfall, and Riccall Defences, and brief details are given below.

1. Riccall Ings Outfall

It is proposed to construct a high-level Outfall Sluice to evacuate floodwater from the Ings following overtopping of the river embankment from the River Ouse. Riccall Ings is a valuable flood storage area which, together with the other washlands on the Lower River Ouse, helps to protect surrounding communities from the serious consequences of flooding.

However, at the present time, floodwater does not discharge from the Ings back into the river in an acceptable time period. Preliminary design work for the new Sluice has started and details of the proposals will be sent to the Parish Council for any comments, later this year . Subject to satisfying the necessary criteria for scheme approval, it is planned to begin the construction of the structure early in 2003.

2. Riccall Defences

To prevent the flooding of land and property to the north of Landing Lane, consideration is being given to the construction of defences, adjacent to Landing Lane, to limit the extent of flooding in Riccall Ings. A number of isolated properties to the south of the Lane may be included within the protected area but the viability of this part of the scheme has not yet been established. Further feasibility work is to be carried out before any proposals can be confirmed. If the agreement of all the parties can be obtained, the works could start on site in the year 2004.

We will keep you fully informed of the flood defence programme on this site. If you would like to be informed when further news appears on the site and recive other web site updates, please contact us with