MEMBERS of a flood defence committee are furious over council plans to support a flood scheme at a nearby industrial estate rather than a village often hit by rising waters.

Sue Butler, chairman of the Brompton Flood Prevention Group, has questioned why Hambleton District Council has prioritised businesses over residents at Brompton, near Northallerton, after a scheme to protect Dalton Industrial Estate, near Thirsk, from future flooding was announced.

She said: “It seems that companies and industries are more important to Hambleton District Council than residents, as for years Brompton Flood Group has campaigned for flood defences, having the backing of Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, only to be told there is no money.

“Then lo and behold they manage to find millions to fund flood defences for local industry.

“There are 169 properties at risk in Brompton, although we managed to keep residents safe this time when we had heavy rainfall as we have de-silted the beck twice ourselves with money we had fund-raised.

“If there was a flood on the scale of Cumbria, it would be Brompton in the national news again as it was in 2012.”

Mrs Butler has asked the council to reconsider plans for a £3.2 million reservoir that were discussed in 2005 and 2011 to safeguard Brompton’s future.

But leader of Hambleton District Council Cllr Mark Robson said the council had not yet secured the funding for the scheme and is working with local businesses to find the money.

He said: “Hambleton District Council is responsible for economic development – which is why it is involved with the Dalton Bridge scheme – without replacing this bridge the industrial estate it serves will not be able to expand and businesses develop.

“We have not secured millions for this project – we have secured the money to draw up a scheme, but we have not found the money to implement it.

“Currently that scheme has received planning permission and the council is working with the local businesses to help them find the cash needed to bring this to fruition.”

Bosses at Dalton Industrial Estate said the plan would enable firms to guarantee 24-hour 365-day-a-year deliveries from the site, which has regularly suffered from flooding at its main entrance.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “We don’t have any plans at the moment to build any flood defences at Brompton but we are working closely with the local flood committee and council.

“Even if we can’t build a scheme there are things the community can do on an individual property level and we will continue to work with residents.”