RYEDALE District Council has approved a contribution of up to £320,000 towards the Malton, Norton and Old Malton Flood Alleviation Scheme (MNOMFAS).

Councillors agreed to the contribution, at a meeting of the authority’s full council last Thursday while also investigating the cost of buying three electrically-powered pumps at an additional cost.

MNOMFAS has been developed by North Yorkshire County Council, the lead flooding authority, with other agencies, including the Environment Agency. The whole scheme is costed at about £1.6 million - down from the previous estimate of £3 million.

The scheme will include bespoke property-level protections, planting to improve drainage and reduce the volume of water entering the combined sewer, capital improvements to Riggs Road drain in Old Malton, improvements to flood warning procedures, the construction of chambers to house temporary pumps, and control of surface and groundwater “flowpaths” along with a rain garden in Castlegate.

Cllr Lindsay Burr said it had taken years of hard work by councillors and officers to get to this stage.

“We need members to support what is on offer and work with this plan which will be great for the residents of Malton, Norton and Old Malton who are affected by flooding.

Cllr Simon Thackray, said that while he supported the scheme, he was concerned about the negative impact on the health of residents of Castlegate and Chandler’s Wharf in Malton due to diesel powered temporary pumps.

“It is unacceptable, in my opinion, for this council to approve a flood alleviation scheme that will, by failing to take into account important known facts, introduce a source of dangerous air pollution to Malton that will damage the health of the public and result in the council breaching air quality law.”

Cllr Keane Duncan, leader of the council, said they had come a long to get to the current scheme.

“A lot of work has gone into this scheme which will be of significant benefit to those people who are still suffering from the impact of flooding,” he added.

“It is encouraging that this scheme is working towards becoming a reality and I am proud of the partnership work which has gone into it.

Cllr Keane said that while he supported the idea of electric pumps, the costs needed to be investigated before a final decision was made.