A DELEGATION of councillors and environment officials met West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett in North Tawton last week to turn the spotlight on flood dangers in the town.

Mr Burnett visited North Tawton earlier this year to hear first hand from residents about the flood problems.

He was hopeful the meeting highlighted the 'crucial' situation for North Tawton residents, some of whom were flooded out of their homes twice last Christmas.

Mr Burnett said: 'The problems at North Tawton really are crucial — it's very dangerous for a number of residents, not only at flood times.

'The surface water is getting in with the foul and that is escaping into people's gardens and houses.

'This is completely unacceptable and a danger to public health.'

This summer, West Devon Borough Council agreed to spend £20,000 on a detailed and technical consultant's report into the problem. The report will be used as additional evidence in trying to bring forward the Environment Agency's River Taw flood alleviation scheme.

'I was delighted West Devon briefed them to find out exactly what the problems are and what remedial action needs to be taken and who is responsible,' said Mr Burnett.

He said he would call a further meeting of all the agencies involved, including South West Water, once the report is available in November.

Nick Payne, borough environmental chief, said in addition to providing a 'major platform' for the flood problem, the report would also highlight the element of responsibility for dealing with the situation, whether agency or landowner.

'We are hopeful this report will also identify measures which can be taken by residents in North Tawton directly.'

Mr Payne thought last Thursday's meeting was 'worthwhile'.

'I think it helped everybody understand the complexities of the situation,' he said.

And he hoped Mr Burnett would be able to raise the issue of designating the River Taw as a main river at ministerial level.

'To all intents and purposes it is a main river in local parlance, but not as far as the Environment Agency is concerned.

'When main river designation applies that places additional obligations on the Environment Agency to consider flood alleviation measures should they be necessary,' he said.

Mr Payne said the flood relief scheme for Mill Cottages in North Tawton was due to be tackled in 2003, but it was a discretionary scheme which could get put back if funding was tight.

'If it was designated a main river, whilst that wouldn't guarantee funding, it would improve the chances of the scheme being put in place,' he said.

Stuart Coleman of North Tawton Environmental Trust had a very different proposal to deal with the flooding.

He said constant development caused increased run-off, therefore the whole area, including farmland and marshland, should be looked at.

He suggested buffer strips on agricultural land, protecting and using marshland areas as 'sponges' and building slow-release coffer dams on any new housing development.

'It will involve people working together and looking at the bigger picture,' he said.

'Work in the town and at the bridge is completely wrong and a waste of taxpayers' money.'

Jim Constantine of the Environment Agency, said the meeting was 'useful'.

He said North Tawton had a 'severe problem' arising from the two water courses through the town, but the agency, borough council and town council were actively working together to come up with a solution.