FOLLOWING your recent article on the merits or otherwise of dredging the River Ouse, has anyone considered the vast storage capacity below our feet?

That is the now closed and soon-to-be deserted Selby Coalfield. Just imagine an inlet at Westow main entrance and water pumped to the surface at North Selby Mine, with the relevant treatment plant built using the existing buildings.

Water taken out of the Ouse in times of flood would have a great effect on flood levels.

We are talking here of many billions of gallons of water. The pressure exerted on the walls and roadways throughout the complex would also stave off the effect of subsidence.

R Upton,

Sycamore Avenue,

Filey.

Updated: 09:59 Thursday, November 25, 2004