Almost ten years ago Pocklington Town Council paid £20,000 to commission a report into the cause of the flooding on 25th June 2007 in the Pocklington Parish and recommended alleviation actions.

Reading through the report I am unsure if the recommendations listed below have been acted upon. I will request an update from ERYC Director of Planning, Alan Menzies.

Recommendations To Address?

Responsible authority key

BW = British Waterways; ERYC = East Riding of Yorkshire Council; EA = Environment Agency; PTC = Pocklington Town Council

Urgent

1. 8.1.1 Remove the major flow internal obstructions on the south branch (Union Street) and north branch (at the Co-op) culverts and set up regular maintenance and monitoring. [EA have set up external maintenance inspections in 2007]
2. 8.1.2 Remove the redundant brick baffle walls at the Post Office and Churchyard culvert exit and entrance on the north branch. Consideration of fitting screens preventing unauthorised entry to the culverts in accordance with best practice.[EA]
3. 8.1.5 Dredge in accordance with best practice upstream from Bridge Street to the limit of ‘main river’ upstream of Denison Road and ensure consistent carrying capacity. [EA]
4. 8.1.6 Review embankment arrangements upstream of Denison Road and Target Lane to determine if modifications could inhibit the flow flooding Denison Road and Target Lane properties. [EA]
5. 8.1.10 After clearance of culverts in Pocklington and Red House carry out CCTV survey to inspect three newly found major side branches in Pocklington and determine the layout at Red House. [EA]
6. 8.1.11 Make the CCTV videos and still pictures available to riparian property owners.[PTC]
7. 8.1.15 Confirm all pipes leading from the chamber at Woldgate College/Chestnut View are clear and regularly inspected. Include a litter eradication programme with Woldgate College. [ERYC]
8. 8.1.18 Ensure trauma stress help information packs and health professionals contact details are delivered to people at addresses affected by the flooding. [PTC]

Short term (less than one year)

1. 8.2.5 Construct a new manhole at the node junction of the north and south branches in Market Street. [EA]
2. 8.2.6 Construct a new manhole halfway down Union Street to facilitate blockage clearance and compliance with current best practice with regard to the distance between access points. [EA]
3. 8.2.7 Replace the 600mm[2’] diameter culvert under Burnby Lane near Willow Waters with a larger size pipe. [ERYC]
4. 8.2.8 Compile and maintain a register of riparian landowners and culvert owners in the parish area. Arrange an inspection at least every five years of all publicly accessible watercourses and report on their flow carrying capacity condition and recommend works if required to the responsible person or authority.[PTC]
5. 8.2.9 Identify flood route and properties affected and provide information on flood resilience products for the owners. [PTC]
6. 8.2.10 Review Local Development Documents taking account of flood maps. [PTC/ERYC]

Medium term (between one and three years)

1. 8.3.1 Determine policy on repair of culverts and where appropriate undertake repairs, remove protrusions and generally clear out culverts. [EA/Owners]
2. 8.3.2 Dredge in accordance with best practice downstream of the houses on Pocklington Beck to ‘main river’ at Crudhall Bridge. [EA]
3. 8.3.3 Determine the ownership of redundant bridges between Pocklington and Canal Head and remove as appropriate. [EA/Owners]
4. 8.3.4 Construct a capital works improvement scheme if justified from the Project Appraisal under Defra/EA grant aid or Regional Flood Defence Committee Local Levy grant.
5. 8.3.5 Remove old railway embankment at Railway Street/ West Green to provide continuity of gradient through the town for a flood route or install monsoon type high capacity drains with direct connection into the main twin culverts. This could be part of the capital scheme or a stand alone project. [EA]
6. 8.3.6 Regrade road levels along Market Street to provide continuity of gradient through the town for a flood route or install monsoon type high capacity drains with direct connection into the main culvert in Market Place. This could be part of the capital scheme or a stand alone project. [EA]