Work on £17m flood defence scheme under way

The project would help protect about 10,000 properties in Goole and surrounding villages, the Environment Agency said

Work on a £17m scheme to strengthen flood defences near Goole has started.

The Environment Agency said the scheme involved strengthening about six miles (10km) of existing defences on the northern bank of the Dutch River, part of the River Don, to reduce the likelihood of a failure or breach.

The agency said it would help protect about 10,000 properties in Goole and surrounding villages.

The work is expected to take about two years to complete.

The project has been funded by the Environment Agency and the Goole Town Deal Board, which has allocated £3.1m from a government regeneration fund towards a "greenway corridor" between Goole and Rawcliffe Bridge for use by pedestrians and cyclists.

Dean Hamblin, senior flood and coastal risk adviser at the agency, said: "This is a significant investment in the future resilience of Goole and its neighbouring villages.

"By strengthening the Dutch River defences, we are helping to protect thousands of homes and businesses, while also unlocking wider economic benefits for the region.

"It's a vital step in ensuring communities are better protected against flooding now and in the future," he added.

Phil Jones, chair of the Goole Town Deal Board, said the project provided an opportunity to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as helping to give people better access to the town's waterways, nature and green spaces.

The Dutch River was originally engineered in the 1620s by Dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden to drain marshland for farming.

It was later used to transport coal from South Yorkshire to the port of Goole for export.

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