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May 2024

News

Transport chief says 'irresponsible' to blame gullies for Knaresborough floods

Published: 15 May 2024, 16:21 BST

Updated: 15 May 2024, 17:02 BST

by John Plummer

North Yorkshire transport chief Cllr Keane Duncan has hit back at claims that poor gulley maintenance caused homes and streets to flood in Knaresborough last week.

Raw sewage entered almost 50 homes during flash floods on bank holiday Monday (May 6).

It prompted claims by some residents and Liberal Democrat councillors that poorly maintained gullies were a factor in the flooding.

Cllr Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways at North Yorkshire Council, robustly denied these allegations during today's full council meeting.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East, asked Cllr Duncan how many times a gulley truck has visited Knaresborough in the last three years, how many hours it was in the town and how many gullies were cleaned.

She also asked for details of gulley cleaning since the floods on May 6.

Cllr Duncan replied:

"2,664 gullies were cleaned in Knaresborough over the last three years. Since Monday, May 6 a gulley cart has been in Knaresborough daily.

"153 gullies were checked, 40 of those were jetted. Investigation work continues at several locations this week."

Cllr Duncan continued:

"I think that answers the question but I do think there are further facts that need to be shared. The flooding in Knaresborough followed rainfall of 32mm per hour. This was a freak localised weather event – an event so extreme that no drainage system could possibly have coped.

"I must therefore challenge head-on claims made on social media and in the press by local Liberal Democrat councillors that inadequate gulley maintenance and cost saving measures are to blame.

"Our teams have seen no evidence to support this claim and to be clear we have seen significant improvement in our gully cleansing regime across the county."

Cllr Duncan added that gulley cleaning had improved across North Yorkshire. He said:

"This last year we cleaned over 20,000 more than the year before. This was the highest performance we have had in many years if not the most we have had in any years.

"This is testament to the work of North Yorkshire highways. We are cleaning more gullies and we are committing extra resource not less. Any claims to the contrary are incorrect and in my view irresponsible and I would invite those councillors to set the record straight."

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Transport chief says 'irresponsible' to blame gullies for Knaresborough floods

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