IF you looked up river from Lendal Bridge towards Scarborough Bridge, in York, last week, you would have seen on the paved paths on either bank of the river a deep deposit of mud and silt left by flood waters.

This mud, I guess, has been washed off the fields further up river in the heavy rainfalls.

If the River Ouse is capable of carrying so much silt and then depositing it on the side of the river banks, what is happening on the river bed?

Surely, mud and silt is deposited there as well? If this is so, then the bed of the river must be rising and thus reducing the carrying capacity of the river.

The reduced capacity must, therefore, be contributing to the flood problem in the city.

What a simplistic view you may say. Well if I do not fully understand the situation, can anyone enlighten me please?

Stuart Wilson,

Vesper Drive,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 10:17 Friday, November 18, 2005