YORKSHIRE councils look set tomorrow to block a proposed big hike in their contributions towards flood defences.

The Environment Agency is asking the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee for a 37 per cent increase in local authority levies to pay for improved flood forecasting and warning, maintenance of existing defences and construction of new defences.

The rise is needed to ensure that a project to protect Malton and Norton can be fast-tracked, and also that another proposed scheme for Stamford Bridge can go ahead.

But an Evening Press survey has revealed that many local authorities want a far lower levy increase - only four per cent in some cases.

Coun Jack Goodhand, who represents four local authorities on the committee - Derbyshire, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham - said: "I cannot see the local authorities going for the full 37 per cent."

Coun Grenville Horsfall, representing Bradford and Calderdale, said they just wanted a levy rise in line with inflation.

The strongest support for the agency's request came from Coun Peter Sowray, who represents City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council, who said the county was keen to set whatever levy was needed to allow flood defence schemes to go ahead.

He said he would be attending a meeting with City of York Council today to ascertain the city's stance. A York council spokesman said: "We are still formulating our position."

But Coun Jack Mulgrove, who represents Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire councils on the committee, said he believed some new flood defence schemes could still go ahead with only a ten per cent levy increase. He said costs could be phased over a period of time to reduce the impact in the coming year, and prioritisation would be needed.

He admitted that flood victims would be up in arms if the committee left them facing the risk of a third inundation.

Coun Hilary Saynor, Stamford Bridge parish council chairwoman and district councillor, said any threat of a delay to the village's flood defence scheme was "very disturbing." She added: "It will cause grave anxiety."

Norton flood victim Di Keal said that a refusal to agree to the 37 per cent rise would be a "huge blow", particularly after the success of this week's delegation by Ryedale flood victims to Westminster.

Updated: 12:53 Thursday, February 01, 2001