There’s a delay to a scheme to protect Tadcaster from flooding.
News that the Environment Agency has requested a three month extension to the planning application has emerged in the week a public meeting is due to be held in the Ark in Tadcaster (Tuesday Oct 7 at 6pm).
In December this year it will be 10 years since the town’s bridge collapsed into the flooded River Wharfe.
Now the Environment Agency has told local independent North Yorkshire councillor, Kirsty Poskitt, it has recently identified additional stakeholder concerns.
It says to ensure smooth progression through the planning process, they feel it necessary to address these matters appropriately first before proceeding further.
Cllr Poskitt said: “It goes without saying that this is incredibly disappointing news and leaves us in a position that none of us were expecting to be in.
“With winter around the corner, getting planning approval for the scheme was the boost everyone needed to get through another wet season.
“This change could mean that the planning isn’t brought before the committee until early 2026.
“It is very important at this stage to note that the delays are at the request of the applicant (EA) and not North Yorkshire Council who were preparing the report with recommendations.”
She added “Tomorrow evening, Tuesday 7th October, there is a meeting at 6pm in the Ark where the EA’s Flood Risk Manager, Paul Stockhill, will be present to answer any questions raised.
“This meeting was originally scheduled to discuss the next steps for the agreement between the EA and the Town Council on the flood scheme but is likely to now be a general Q&A as to what has happened and what we do next.
“The meeting is open to the public, I recommend people come along to hear the reasoning behind this decision.”
