NEW hopes of major flood defence work being carried out at Pickering have been raised as a result of Ryedale councillors agreeing to spend £1 million towards a scheme.

Coun Keith Knaggs told the district council's policy and resources committee that he welcomed the move and hoped it would trigger other funding towards the £4 million scheme from Yorkshire Water (YW) and the Environment Agency(EA) .

He said: "If they don't play their part we won't be putting in our money."

Some 150 households in the market town stand to benefit from the project which aims to combat future flooding following previous incidents in which scores of houses were hit by deep floods.

Coun Edward Legard said "It is good to see the council taking the lead on flood defence work".

However, he was also anxious to see the authority focus its efforts and resources on helping to create new jobs and supporting small businesses.

Coun Arthur Aslett said the council's £1 million contribution should "embarrass" YW and the EA into providing the remaining funds.

Meanwhile, the committee also agreed that four key schemes should be given priority up to 2010 - a technology park for Malton, Thornton Road Business Park, Pickering, incubator units and managed workspace at Malton and Pickering, development at the former Pickering coalyard and improvements at the Malton by-pass junctions on the A64.

Plans are being made for the Royal Engineers to build a footbridge over the River Derwent at Norton Ings, but the cost of materials is likely to be between £25,000 and £30,000. The scheme has been put on hold because of the uncertainty of the army's work programme.

The re-surfacing of the car park at Ryedale House, which had been recommended for shelving because of the £60,000 cost, is now to go ahead over two years after councillors were told that because it had been repaired for more than 15 years there was evidence of extensive erosion which was likely to lead to further damage.

Hopes are high that toilets could again be provided in Wentworth Street, Malton following their closure recently. Trevor Teasdale the council's chief financial officer said there is a possibility of a scheme going ahead connected to the Wentworth Street Community House and an investigation is now being made into toilets being incorporated.

Updated: 09:35 Tuesday, April 25, 2006