Filey Flood Alleviation scheme finishing imminently
It's been more than 20 years after a major flood hit the town.
Filey's Flood Alleviation scheme is finishing imminently more than 20 years after a major flood hit the town.
A ditch has been built which is designed to collect excess rainwater and footpaths have been put in place now.
Hunmanby ward Councillor Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability at Scarborough Borough Council, said:
"There's people up there now walking their dogs and enjoying it. One thing that's key to emphasis is yes, it's a functioning Flood Alleviation scheme but it's also a public open space and amenity. It's already started to grass up and there are foothpaths in place that the public can enjoy.
"I think generally speaking there is a genuine sense of relief, particularly over the years after the flooding that there was in Filey, everytime there's heavy rain there's always that anxiety 'is it going to happen again?' Because it's such a disruption to somebody's life and the fear is that it ends up happening again.
"Over the initial phases I think there was that trepidation as to whether or not it was going to work as we really had a lot of rain over the winter. There was some standing water on the land but that dissipated so I think for a lot of people it has really provided them just with that peace of mind and that now they can just park that to the side and get on with other things.
"The key things we have to do now is really just the finishing snagging, tidying up the area, just sorting out some of the accesses, fencing and then it will be done and finished. The amount of work that I've seen that needs to be done it is minor and I would say it's pretty much 95 percent finished, it really is now a case of dotting the I's and crossing the T's".