Selby Strategic Development Framework

20 1Water 20 The first of the three topic masterplans relates to Selby District’s most plentiful resource – water. The central part of the district lies in the flood plain of four major rivers and was so boggy that it was avoided by early settlers. While the area has been drained to become rich farmland, flooding is an ever-present issue. Selby experienced major floods in 1794, 1866, 1947, 1982 and most recently in 2000 while Tadcaster suffered in 1935 and 2000. Flood defences have been put in place and the Environ- ment Agency has plans for further defences in the two towns. However, the agency is also exploring a wider strategy to manage the whole watershed to reduce the likelihood of flooding. The water masterplan has looked at flood protection and how defences can be made effective without being intrusive. However, it has also looked at a wider strategy that works with the Environment Agency across the watershed to make water into an asset as much as a threat. Central to this strategy is the concept of a Yorkshire Water Park acting in the capacity of holding flood waters but also predominantly being a wildlife reserve and a visitor attraction. 1Water 21 Water 1 Water 22 ater moulded the landscape of Selby District Wfrom the time when it was part of an inland sea estuary. This was later enclosed to become the glacial Lake Humber which, as it silted-up, became a huge marshy expanse of land avoided by early settlers. This has been gradually drained and turned over to agricultural land crossed by the meandering courses of the Rivers Ouse, Wharfe, Aire and the Derwent. Most of the district lies within the flood plain of these rivers and is not much more than 6m above sea level. This history of water has fundamentally influenced the landscape character of the district, which includes the following character areas: Magnesian limestone ridge: The oldest physical influences are associated with the Magnesian limestone ridge, which runs along the western boundary of the district. Tadcaster and Sherburn-in-Elmet are both positioned on this ridge and are strongly 1water 23 influenced by its specific qualities. Humberhead Levels: The distinctive, The ridge was deposited in an en- extremely low lying and exception- closed evaporated inland sea during ally flat landform of the Humberhead the Permian period, some 245 – 255 Levels was created by alluvial de- million years ago. The limestone has posits of silt and clay that settled out weathered to form a rounded rolling from the waters of the great ‘Lake ridge with well-drained calcareous Humber’, which was impounded by soils. The limestone is of consider- a glacier at the mouth of the Humber able economic value and has been during the late Quaternary era. These quarried since the middle ages for deep deposits have formed some building stone, agricultural lime and of the most productive agricultural latterly, crushed aggregate. Indeed areas of Britain. Selby, the principal the stone for York Minster was town of the area, is positioned at its quarried in Tadcaster whose original centre. name – Calcaria – means ‘place of limestone’. River corridors: The extensive network of broad, tidal and naviga- Bunter Sandstone: To the east of ble rivers that drain the district has the ridge, the Limestone dips under had an important influence on the the younger deposits of Bunter or landscape of the region. The Ouse is Lower Red Sandstone of the Triassic the principal river, supported by its period. This sandstone has been tributaries, the Wharfe, Derwent and almost entirely masked by thick silt Aire. Alluvium deposits line the floors and clay deposits (see Humberhead of the river channels, which are now levels). Outcrops are limited to the generally confined within engineered area around Hambleton and Thorpe embankments to control the flow of Willoughby and around Carlton and water through the district. Camblesforth to the south of the district. Key Limestone ridge Bunter sandstone Humberhead levels River corridors Limestone Bunter sandstone Humberhead levels River corridors 24 2water 25 Selby wharf Tadcaster brewery Woodlands Intensive agriculture ollowing the retreat of the last also, gradually led to an increase in mental interest (including eight point on the river Ouse navigable ice age 10,000 years ago, the ground levels. The seasonal flooding SSSI’s in the district). Water vole, by sea-going vessels and was Fflat Humberhead Plain was also flushed surface salts out of the otters and bats are present within the originally developed as an important initially colonised by a large forest. soil to ensure its continued health. area and the only confirmed British medieval inland port. Tadcaster was 7,000 years later, rising sea levels This rich farmland is one of the population of the rare Tansy beetle is positioned on the Great North Road pushed the Humber Estuary further most productive areas of Britain and situated within the district. The visual (Roman) at an important crossing inland and waterlogged the affor- has led to large-scale farm intensifi- amenity of the river corridors is an point of the River Wharfe. ested areas, which were replaced by cation in some areas. This has led to important local resource and is rec- Water has also shaped the extensive areas of reed swamp. habitat impoverishment particularly ognised by a number of designated economy of the district from the port The influence of humans started of wetland habitats, loss of trees and Special Landscape Areas. and shipbuilding industries of Selby to be seen in the 11th century about hedgerows and the localised lower- to brewing in Tadcaster. The latter is the time of the foundation of Selby ing of the water table through water Human settlement based on the special qualities of the Abbey. Drainage and clearance of abstraction. The recently introduced local water filtered through limestone the swamps created broad areas Single Farm Payment and Steward- The agrarian-based settlement pat- and gypsum rendering it ideal for of fertile farmland. Winter flooding ship schemes may lead to diversifi- tern of the district comprises a large brewing. deposited silts over the low-lying cation of agricultural practices, with number of evenly distributed rural The rivers have therefore always plain and rich wet grasslands devel- more emphasis being placed on villages and hamlets supported by been seen as both a threat and op- oped. Traditionally the fertility of the conservation issues and alternative the larger market towns of Selby and portunity. The dangers of flooding wetland meadows was maintained uses of the land. Tadcaster. Once again water has had have been balanced against a desire by the technique of ‘warping’: the Remnants of the more natural a large part to play in the evolution to live and work near water and the deliberate and managed flooding vegetation cover within the region of the larger settlements offering key resultant pressure to develop within of meadows with fertile silt laden are commonly associated with the crossing points or providing the op- the natural flood plain. waters. The resulting layers of silt, river corridors and are recognised portunity for water borne transport. not only increased fertility, but and protected as sites of environ- Selby is positioned at the highest 26 Key 100 year flood level 200 year flood level Areas benefiting from flood defences Water bodies 3water 27 Temporary flood defences in Selby The 1947 flood in Selby and the 1935 flood in Selby’s flood defences in the 2000 flood Flood defence banks in Tadcaster and Selby Tadcaster elby has experienced five most of which has happened also mean that the growing season volume of available water counter the threat of global warming major floods in just over 200 since 1990. increases by 45 to 100 days a year. and there is only so much that can Syears, Tadcaster two major Changes to wildlife species and be done at the district level to ad- floods within the last 70 years. While regional rainfall is not Impact on the district habitats dress the causes of global warming This is a result of its low-lying flat increasing more of the rain falls (see the Energy masterplan). The landscape crossed by tidal rivers. in winter. Winters have become These changes to the region’s cli- Despite an overall reduction in rain- Water strategy therefore needs to Flooding has generally occurred 30% wetter while we have had mate will have significant impacts on fall the district will become increas- reduce the volume and speed of run- when severe rainfall in the watershed 60% less rainfall in summer. This many aspects of life within Selby and ingly prone to winter flooding. There off from uplands and built-up areas combines with a high tide. Over the increases the prospects of sum- Tadcaster. These may include: are currently 86km of flood defences and increase the capacity of the river years flood defences have reduced mer droughts and winter floods. on the River Ouse, of which 78km system to accommodate flood water. the impact of flooding and if the situ- Increased frequency and severity are flood embankments and 8km These issues are dealt with on the ation were stable, the works planned Average tide levels on the of flood events hard defences such as flood walls. following pages. over the next five years by the east coast have risen at rates Even with the works planned to ex- Environment Agency would largely between 1.5 and 3.6mm per year Higher tidal surges tend these defences, the uncertainty solve the issue. over the last 80 years. that results from global warming However, the situation is unfor- Increased influence of saline means that they may not be enough.

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