A Skipton landowner wants to help "eliminate the flooding risk" to the town by diverting water around his land into a small reservoir.

An old access road to Steve Cuthbert's land above Whinny Gill Reservoir was completely washed away by the Skipton floods of 1982, which claimed the life of a pensioner.

He says a simple ditch channelling rainwater through the 32-acre site and into the neighbouring Jenny Gill Reservoir could help prevent the same happening again.

The move could also improve Yorkshire Water's supply levels during drought conditions, says Mr Cuthbert.

He says he approached the authorities with his idea several years ago, and was "passed from pillar to post". But he would like to try again now that he is trying to create a pleasant thoroughfare across to Draughton on his land, known as Vicker's Allotment.

Yorkshire Water, which operates Jenny Gill Reservoir, has said it would look into any plans the Gargrave-based ex-teacher and farmer has.

Steve said: "My proposals are quite simple: To put a ditch in the ground and run it down the gradient of the hill, changing to a buried pipe which would carry the water down to Jenny Gill. It would simply flow down into Jenny Gill before going on into Whinny Gill using the existing network of pipes.

"The main reason for doing it is that it would eliminate the flooding risk to the town below.

"There was a huge one here in the early 1980s and at some time in the future it will happen again.

"It would also put more water into Whinny Gill when its level drops. But my idea has fallen on deaf ears."

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said Jenny Gill Reservoir was still operating and it would look into Mr Cuthbert's plans.

Councillor Robert Heseltine, who won an award for his role in saving lives during the flood of 1982, said: "Anything that would give peace of mind to those who suffered in the floods has got to be a good thing, subject to it being accepted by Yorkshire Water.

"There may be some merit in the case but water is a very difficult thing to predict and it would be very early days to give a substantial view on it."

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