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Search forMindless vandals trash flood-defence barrier at Burstwick Drain
Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 07:00
Sandbags used to build up the bank of Burstwick Drain to protect hundreds of residents against the threat of flooding have been used to create a makeshift damn.
Water level monitoring instruments fitted as part of an Environment Agency (EA) flood risk management plan have been attacked and rendered temporarily useless.
Residents today said it was lucky there has been no heavy rainfall recently.
The “mindless” acts of vandalism were discovered when members of a flood action group from the area returned from a visit to the village of Wilnis, in Holland, to learn how to better protect communities from the type of devastation suffered last June.
Ron Smith, a villager and member of the Holderness Flood Defence Group (HFDG), which has expanded from Burstwick United, said: “Thankfully, it has been a dry few days.
“Had the water level been up any higher, we could have been in real difficulties.
“It is only a small section attacked, but the bank has been undermined and may have failed had the water levels been higher.”
Burstwick Drain burst its banks during last summer's devastating downpour.
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John Goodlass, of the Environment Agency, at Burstwick Drain
East Riding inferno
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