A controversial flood prevention scheme for a village near York has been halted - after a mining firm withdrew plans to tunnel under the village.

The proposals by RJB Mining to extend the Selby Coalfield under Naburn would have left the village at increased risk of flooding from the River Ouse, because of anticipated subsidence of up to 700mm.

Earlier this year, the Environment Agency was working with the mining company to draw up a major scheme to protect homes from inundation.

But residents whose riverside gardens would have been spoilt by a large flood wall were appalled by the scheme and many vowed to fight it all the way.

The agency planned to hold an exhibition in the village this month to explain its preferred option.

But a spokesman said RJB had announced that mining under the village was no longer in its plans, and the whole flood scheme was now under review by the agency.

He said the agency still wanted to go ahead with some kind of scheme at some stage, provided it was feasible and cost-effective.

But there would be little point in going ahead with one at this stage when the mining plans could still be revived: the resulting subsidence could jeopardise its effectiveness.

Villager Laura Hanson, who led local opposition to the scheme, said the whole village had been united against the mining proposals and welcomed RJB's decision, which they hoped would be permanent.

She said many residents had moved into their homes knowing there was some risk from the river and did not want a flood wall at all.

Instead, they wanted action to prevent the regular winter flooding of roads leading to the village, which sometimes left the village completely marooned.

She said the agency should work with the highways authority to raise the level of key roads, such as the main route from Fulford and York.

The agency said it would be talking with the parish council this autumn about future prospects, and it was likely that any scheme would now be shelved for at least the next two to three years until it could be certain one way or the other whether mining would take place.

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