HOURS before flood defence work was about to start Ilkley Cricket Club suffered another major flood recently.

Despite efforts by club members responding to a late flood alert at 5am the clubhouse was already inches deep in water with fast flowing water taking debris onto the square and outfield.

Club Secretary, Brian Wheeler, bemoaned the problems the club has experienced in 2020.

“Not content with the issues of Covid, nature has thrown us another blow,” he said.

“However, members will rally around and get stuck in to clear the field of stones, leaves and other detritus.”

This is the sixth flooding incident since 2015 at the club. The club has been awarded grant aid from Sport England and the Ilkley Parish Council for the improvement to the defence initiative. “The work cannot be completed soon enough,”added Mr Wheeler.

Work on the defence initiative started just the day after the flood on Tuesday, November 3. The plan is to build a perimeter wall about two feet high.

Mr Wheeler said: “On the west side, Middleton Avenue, the wall will be two blocks wide, because the water (river) cascades through the car park with a strong flow and extra strength we feel is required on this side of the clubhouse. The club has to do something – to demolish and raise would be an enormous amount of money and this is not covered by the insurance.

“We are reviewing what flooring to put in the dressing rooms – usually it is carpeted but it is felt contract flooring may be more appropriate but final decisions have not been made.

“The latest flood was deeper than previously experienced and the alerts came too late to fix the flood barriers we do have. They have a benefit but do not deny water accessing the club through the walls and ground.

“It is hoped, and we don’t want it put to the test, that that a perimeter barrier will divert the water and allow the flood gates we do have to have a more positive effect.

“A visit by the Environment Agency on November 5 advised us and local residents that the use of temporary flood defences on Denton Road and Middleton Avenue will not in future be deployed.

“We are pleased with this decision since their use would have impacted on us more severely. Water would have reached the club more quickly and at a faster pace!”