A £1 MILLION scheme to protect Stamford Bridge from flooding has been blocked by councillors - devastating a mother whose family home and business have twice been inundated.

Jane Parsley walked out of the committee room in tears castigating councillors after East Riding of Yorkshire Council's planning committee yesterday (thurs) deferred the Environment Agency's project.

Members wanted to ease the visual impact on the picturesque Shallows in the centre of the village and were also concerned about three properties which will not be protected under the scheme.

Officers will now negotiate with the agency for it to replace proposed permanent flood banks with "demountable" defences, which can be moved into place when the River Derwent threatens to flood and then taken away again afterwards.

Officers will also look into the lack of protection for The Cornmill restaurant, Jo Barry's shop and home and the Weir Caravan park.

Councillors were told that the latter two properties on the west bank would actually face an increased risk of flooding, with flood levels in a 1-in-100-year flood event likely to be up to 20 cms higher because of the flood walls on the opposite bank.

The committee heard that ill-feeling and division had been created in the village over the defences issue. Eighteen letters had arrived recently at the council in support of the agency's scheme, and another 15 letters had come from people who wanted the moveable defences instead.

Councillors said it was vital to "get things right" before giving the scheme the go-ahead. However, they accepted the urgent need for defences and asked for a further special planning meeting to be held as soon as possible to reach a decision.

But Phil Parker, head of planning and development control, warned it would take time to consult various statutory bodies. "We cannot do that overnight."

Jane Parsley, who lives at The Pottery in the village square with her husband Roy and daughter Charlotte, said she feared the delay would mean two more winter flooding seasons before her home and business were finally safe.

She said her three-year-old daughter was now frightened every time it rained that it would flood again.

Stamford Bridge councillor and parish council chairman Hilary Saynor said she was disappointed by the delay but hoped the agency could now get the scheme right.

She had earlier suggested a compromise to the committee, under which permission would be granted so as to allow work to start on non-controversial aspects of the project, while officers continued to negotiate on other matters such as the demountable defences. But the committee refused to back the idea.

Updated: 09:10 Friday, November 09, 2001