RESIDENTS in Ilkley have been warned that they need to be prepared to combat the growing threat of flooding in the area.

This stark message was given by the Environment Agency - formerly the National Rivers Authority - last week at a flooding information and awareness event in the town.

The agency held a 'flood surgery' at Ilkley's Kings Hall and Winter Garden as part of its overall Wharfe Catchment Flood Defence Strategy. The agency has drawn together flood prevention options ranging from improving upland management techniques, and the blocking of moorland drainage channels, to the construction of embankments or walls as local flood defences.

Around 30 people attended the event, which the Environment Agency said was a lower attendance than some of its other events.

Flood defence improvements engineer, Joe Noake, said the surgery was an ideal opportunity for residents and business owners to find out what resources were available to them, as well as raise any concerns or questions.

He said: "We keep telling people that they need to be prepared for a flood and this surgery is a way of helping them do just that. The Agency spends millions of pounds in the region on flood defences and warning systems, but it is very important that individuals take action too.

To help those at risk from flooding protect their own homes and businesses, the agency recently backed a new British standard kitemark system for approved flood protection products. Some of these were on display at the 'surgery'.

The council's environment chief, Ilkley ward councillor Anne Hawkesworth, told residents at an Ilkley Neighbourhood Forum last week about council plans for a Flood Summit to discuss the implications for the area, and possible solutions. She said an increase in flooding - whether from the river or from heavy rain - was not necessarily caused by climatic change, despite extreme weather conditions.

She said the management of the land could be a factor.

Former parish councillor Barbara Cussons said the biggest issues affecting Ilkley were new buildings in flood plains, and the clearance of gullies.

Coun Hawkesworth said all gullies in the area had been cleaned out in the last one-and-a-half years. She said she had received complaints that blocked gullies had led to cellars in one street being flooded - but she believes the gullies were not blocked and still unable to cope after heavy rainfall.

"I was told that the gullies were full and that's why they weren't able to cope. The gullies were actually cleaned out the week before these particular storms," said Coun Hawkesworth.

She said the Environment Agency had taken a stronger line on building in flood plain areas in Bradford Council's Unitary Development Plan.

Bradford Council officer Patrick Laughton said flooding had become a bigger issue in the Bradford, Keighley and Ilkley areas over the past three to four years.

l A further flood surgery will take place at Otley Civic Centre, Cross Green, from 2pm to 8pm on Monday.