Flood defences protecting thousands of homes, farms and businesses across East Yorkshire require around £200 million of investment to maintain current levels of protection, local MPs have been told following a joint visit to the Environment Agency's Tickton Depot and Pumping Station.
Neighbouring Members of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart MP, and for Bridlington and The Wolds, Charlie Dewhirst MP, met Environment Agency engineers and flood risk specialists to discuss the challenges facing the River Hull catchment and the long-term investment needed to protect local communities.
Large parts of the catchment lie below river and tidal levels, while water draining from the Yorkshire Wolds places additional pressure on the drainage network. Around 180 kilometres of embankments help protect the area, but parts of the flood defence system are deteriorating.
The Environment Agency estimates these assets protect against more than £1.9 billion of potential damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure if they were to fail. Maintaining today's level of protection will require around £200 million of investment in maintenance and renewal over the coming years.
The meeting also examined river maintenance, desilting and the wider coordination needed between the Environment Agency, local authorities, Internal Drainage Boards, Yorkshire Water, farmers, landowners and other key stakeholders to strengthen the catchment's long-term resilience.
In response, Graham Stuart and Charlie Dewhirst will work with the Environment Agency and local partners to re-establish the River Hull Advisory Board. Bringing together the organisations responsible for managing the catchment, the Board will help coordinate future investment, share expertise and strengthen the case for Government funding.
Graham Stuart MP said: "Flooding can devastate homes, businesses and livelihoods in a matter of hours. Seeing these flood defence assets first hand underlines just how much work goes on every day to protect communities across East Yorkshire.
"What was clear from today's discussions is that no single organisation can tackle these challenges alone. The strongest case for investment is one backed by everyone with a responsibility for the River Hull.
"That's why Charlie and I will work with the Environment Agency and local partners to re-establish the River Hull Advisory Board. By bringing everyone together and speaking with one voice, we can make the strongest possible case for the long-term investment needed to protect homes, businesses and farmland across the catchment."
Charlie Dewhirst MP said: "A great visit to Tickton Depot and Pumping Station, working in close collaboration with neighbouring East Yorkshire MP Graham Stuart, to discuss the prevention of flooding in my constituency and the wider River Hull catchment.
"It was really useful to inspect the existing assets and see for myself the £200 million of investment our area's water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years to prevent a potential risk of £1.9 billion of future flood damage. Both Graham and I will now take this away and raise it with the new Government, so that East Yorkshire gets the preventative support it needs.
"It is much better to prepare and prevent where possible, that's why the over 100 flood alleviation schemes undertaken by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in the last two decades have been such a wise investment, helping protect our family homes.
I'm very pleased the last Government invested more in flood defences for Yorkshire and the Humber than any other region, including the £80 million spent on a range of projects in the Humber estuary, and as your local MP that's investment I'll continue to fight for East Yorkshire."
