Fears over town's flood defences

A former councillor fears part of the defences may not be strong enough.

Just weeks after a town's £18m flood defences were officially unveiled, a former councillor has said he has concerns over part of the work.

Dennis Marshall said he was worried part of the defences in Selby may not be able to withstand a major flooding episode on the River Ouse.

He said earthworks near the railway bridge did not appear "solid enough".

But the Environment Agency said they were confident the defences were built to a sufficiently robust specification.

Concerns unfounded

Mr Marshall said: "I'm concerned because we don't know how solid the bank is.

"It looks like they've just piled a load of soil on top of the original bank.

"If we get a good flood tide down here - like one that lapped the bank last time - I'm confident it will come over [the bank] and wash some of that away."

But Anthony Myatt from the Environment Agency said Mr Marshall's concerns were unfounded.

"The earth banking is simply for aesthetics," he said.

"Underneath the soil is a wall of thick, steel sheet piling that provides the practical flood defence.

"We simply cover that actual flood defence with a soil embankment so there is not a steel wall jutting out of ground, which would be unsightly.

"The standard of flood protection is continuous throughout the area."