MP backs bid to bring Minister to celebrate progress of Burstwick Flood Defence scheme

2007 Floods

GRAHAM STUART, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has backed the Burstwick United Flood Action Group’s invitation to the Floods Minister officially to open the new flood defence scheme in the village.

Ron Smith, Burstwick United’s Chairman, wrote to Richard Benyon MP to ask him to visit the village to help spread the message that Burstwick is a desirable and dry place to live.

The invitation was sent following the construction of new earth embankments in Burstwick, which reduced Burstwick’s flood risk from around 1 in 7 to better than 1 in 200.

The work at Burstwick was part of a £3 million package which also included improvements to defences at Hedon. The Environment Agency said the work will reduce the chance of flooding in Burstwick and Hedon from Burstwick Drain to 0.5 per cent in any one year, comparable to the flooding in summer 2007

Graham said “Ron Smith and Burstwick United have done an amazing job of promoting the needs of the village and getting everyone together to make Burstwick safe from flooding. 

When Ron told me he’d written to the Minister to ask him to visit I agreed with him that this would be a great way to celebrate the progress made and send out a message about Burstwick. I’m also grateful to the staff at the Environment Agency who have listened to residents and acted to deliver the improvements. It would be good to tell the Minister about that as well.

“I’ve written separately to the Minister and hope that he will come and help signal the changes that have been made that make Burstwick somewhere safe, dry and desirable to live.”

Sources: Graham Stuart MP and the Environment Agency.

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Vital pumps to prevent Burstwick flooding

Graham Stuart MP

LOCAL MP, GRAHAM STUART has helped secure two diesel pumps which will be used to prevent a repeat of the 2007 floods in Burstwick.

After bringing together local councillors, anti-flood campaigners and the Environment Agency, the Beverley and Holderness MP has said in a press release has that the vital pumps were being ordered:

“So much work has already been done to protect Burstwick from more flooding and the only thing which was missing was these two pumps. Local residents have volunteered to man the pumps and a farmer has agreed to store them so the only thing which had not happened was the pumps being bought. We are just days away from the fourth anniversary of the 2007 floods and so it is high time this situation was resolved.”

The Environment Agency will spend £10,000 on two six inch pumps. Local residents will be trained in how to operate them during times of extreme rainfall and farmer Andy Gray has offered to store the machines on his property.

Link: Graham Stuart MP

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Hull to Withernsea 76 bus withdrawn to be replaced by "improved services" says EYMS

EYMS PUBLISHED ITS NEW HULL - WITHERNSEA bus timetables this week. East Yorkshire Motor Services has withdrawn the No. 76 service and replaced it with "improved Services 75 and 77" says the bus company.

The proposed changes caused controversy last month when it was revealed that services between Withernsea and Keyingham would be reduced at off-peak times and that the altered services will no longer pick up and drop passengers off at Ryehill or Bridge Bungalows bus stops.

The new services operate from Sunday 15th May.

A special Bus Surgery will be held outside St Stephen's Shopping Centre in Hull on Friday morning 20 May from 6:00am - 9:00am. This is the chance to make comments and suggestions on bus services in and around the Hull area. You'll be able to speak to representatives from bus operators (including EYMS) as well as impartial public transport experts.

Radio Humberside will also be broadcasting their entire breakfast programme from the surgery. Look out for the 'Bus It' bus, which will be parked at the front of St Stephens, near the entrance to the Interchange. No appointment is needed, just drop in.
Eyms Service 75-77 Timetable

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Holderness floodworks update

CONSTRUCTION OF FLOOD DEFENCES, which started in July 2009, to reduce risk to 450 properties in Burstwick and Hedon has been completed by the Environment Agency. The new banks and strengthened existing defences are now watertight as work continues to complete the cosmetic aspects of the £3 million scheme.

“Work in Hedon has been particularly complex because of the number of properties along the banks of Burstwick Drain,” said Environment Agency project manager Jamie Wolstencroft.

“Now the scheme is watertight the new and improved defences greatly reduce the risk of flooding to hundreds of properties in Burstwick and Hedon.”

According to the Environment Agency the flood defences will reduce the chance of flooding from Burstwick Drain to 0.5 per cent in any one year - the risk was previously about 10 per cent.

In Hedon, low spots in existing banks alongside Burstwick Drain have been raised, or sections of flood walls built, to provide a consistent level of protection to more than 350 properties.

In Burstwick, two new 1.5-metre high embankments have been built, reducing the risk of flooding to more than 100 in Burstwick, mainly in Skeckling Close.

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