A MASSIVE water storage area is being proposed in an attempt to protect villagers at Brompton from a repeat of the disastrous floods seen 18 months ago.

Creation of the dam on land in the Water End area was the main recommendation for Brompton in a long-awaited Northallerton area drainage study prepared by the Environment Agency and outlined at a public meeting in the village on Monday.

A local councillor said later, however, that many people left the meeting disheartened because even after 18 months no one was prepared to commit any money to remedial measures, for which no time-scale was given.

The proposed dam would be capable of containing 675,000 cubic metres of water and would cost an estimated £1m, but the land on which it would be created has still to be identified.

Coun Bert Langthorne, the local Hambleton member, a parish councillor for 35 years and vice-chairman of the River Wiske internal drainage board, said he was not convinced that this was the best option.

"A lot of soil will have to be shifted to build one dam and it is going to have a lot of pressure on it.

"I think it would be better to build three or four smaller dams for about £300,000, starting about a mile upstream, to contain flooding over a bigger area. The authorities could pay farmers an amount each year for holding flood water on their land."

Coun Langthorne said the main flooding problem arose at Bow Bridge where, after floods in 1979, an official report recommended removal of an arch to improve water flow.

Another obstruction was caused in Brompton Beck by a sewerage pipe, left over from an old factory, which should be placed under the bed of the watercourse.

Coun Langthorne said: "The Environment Agency is saying that the likelihood of such flooding in Brompton is once in 25 years, but it has happened twice in 21 years and it has cost about £400,000 for repairs to the school.

"It has taken 18 months to do this report but who is going to put money forward for the proposals in it? People were very disappointed with it. Someone said it was a complete waste of time because it told us nothing.

"I am very disappointed with the criticism the drainage board is getting. Its job is to maintain waterways, not to improve them, and its income is only £20,000 a year."

Cyril Dyke, head of corporate services at Hambleton, said: "We only received the report last week and are still analysing its findings, but we will be calling a meeting of all the agencies, hopefully within the next two weeks, to examine what is possible, work out costs and look at ways of finding funds."

North Yorkshire County Council has already earmarked £50,000 for work on bridges in any scheme prepared for Brompton.