Ryedale and Stamford Bridge are set to enjoy better flood warnings from December, the Environment Agency revealed today.

A new flow gauge station is being commissioned, together with a revision of the flood forecasting computer model, will enable the agency to provide more accurate forecasts.

And the organisation says it has already completed some work at Norton to prevent flood water backing up drainage outfalls into the River Derwent.

The Agency also says it is setting up a focus group of local councillors, flood victims and environmental organisations to provide a link into the community, with the first meeting of the group taking place next month.

But the EA is also stressing that it can only reduce risk from flooding, not eliminate it - with climate change caused by global warming leading to an increase in extreme rainfall and flooding.

The Agency's Dales Area Manager Craig McGarvey was responding in detail to the Evening Press's Save Ryedale From Flooding campaign.

Mr McGarvey says he totally understands the devastation and trauma caused by flooding, with the recent disaster in the south-east reminding everyone of the heartbreak that can be caused.

But he said there was a limited amount of money available for the construction of new and improved defences and the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee had to decide on the priorities for each scheme put forward by the Agency.

"Understandably, different communities each believe their scheme to be the most important and it is a difficult task to sort out competing priorities using guidance provided by the Government."

He said progress on feasibility studies for Malton and Norton, Pickering and Stamford Bridge was continuing and the agency intended to report on these in detail to the committee next year.

The new focus group would be given an update on progress next month when the agency would listen to the concerns raised.

He said currently, expenditure was planned for schemes at Stamford Bridge in 2001/02, for Malton and Norton in 2002/04 and for Pickering in 2002/03.

Since the Evening Press launched its campaign residents and business people in Norton and Malton and Stamford Bridge have all claimed to the Evening Press that the flooding problem on the Derwent could be largely solved by dredging the river and cutting down overgrown bankside vegetation.

But Mr McGarvey said the Agency has demonstrated that such increased maintenance was not a viable option for flood alleviation.

"Not only would this be a costly annual exercise, it would also not prevent flooding and would destroy the natural beauty of the Derwent Valley."

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