Construction work has started on the multi-million pound flood scheme in Stokesley.

Preparation work has commenced to help manage the 'river flow' of the River Leven.

Once complete in spring 2021, the scheme will improve protection to 509 properties in the town, and provide £46 million of economic benefits over the next 50 years.

The Stokesley Flood Alleviation Scheme is part of the current 6 year capital investment programme which sees government funding of £2.6 billion to better protect 300,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion between 2015 and 2021.

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Beyond 2021 a record government investment of £5.2bn has been announced. This will better protect 336,000 properties, through the creation of around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences, in England by 2027.

The Environment Agency also published its Flood and Coast Erosion Risk Management Strategy, a blueprint setting out how it will work with communities to deliver the government’s long term plan.

One of the initial elements of the works is the temporary closure of a footpath located across the A173 starting on Monday 12 October. This action, agreed with North Yorkshire County Council, will be in place until the end of the programme next spring. The contractors will only close footpaths if it is strictly necessary for certain stages of the work.

The contractor working on the project is BMMJV, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald.