Malton anti-flood measures underway

Actions are under way to provide greater protection from flooding for residents of Malton, Norton and Old Malton.

North Yorkshire County Council is working with partners, including Ryedale District Council, to improve the infrastructure for flood pumps in the towns so that on the occasions when water levels start to rise, the pumps can be deployed more quickly and efficiently.

The infrastructure improvements will involve the installation of permanent brackets, pipework and hard standing at various locations to improve the response time of pump deployment, which is supported by the District Council and other partners as part of the Malton, Norton and Old Malton Pump Plan.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said: “These infrastructure improvements are relatively small, but they should significantly improve the speed and efficiency with which pumps can be deployed, which could have a big impact when dealing with potential flooding.”

Cllr Keane Duncan, leader of Ryedale District Council, said: “We’re pleased to be working with North Yorkshire County Council and partners to bring about these key changes for the benefit of our citizens. Residents of Malton, Old Malton and Norton can rest assured that when any flooding occurs, the equipment in place will help us deal with it effectively.”

In addition, the owners of 150 properties in Malton, Norton and Old Malton that are regarded as high-risk have been contacted by the County Council to encourage them to take advantage of a property level resilience (PLR) scheme that is being funded by the County Council and its partners. The scheme aims to identify products and measures that would help to reduce both the physical and mental impacts of flooding.

The PLR scheme entitles the targeted households to up to £5,000 for alterations subject to a survey by a consultant on behalf of the County Council. These improvements could include such things as flood barriers for doors, airbricks that close if water rises, non-return valves to stop waste water coming back up, and waterproof coatings for walls.

Cllr Mackenzie added: “We urge the property owners to whom we have written to take advantage of this offer, which can help to increase flood resilience. We will never eliminate the risk of flooding entirely, but we can help reduce the risk of water getting into your home and reduce its impact if it does.

“We are pressing ahead with these important measures despite the constraints placed upon all of us by the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding for the PLR scheme is time-limited, so people need to contact us as soon as possible. If our consultants need to visit the property they will, of course, follow social distancing guidelines and take people’s individual circumstances into account.”

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