REPAIRS to the side of the A59 at Kex Gill came under the spotlight during a visit to North Yorkshire by the Government's floods envoy.

Robert Goodwill MP met with North Yorkshire County Council leader, Councillor Carl Les, and chief executive, Richard Flinton, to look at how the local authority is coping with the aftermath of the winter floods.

Urgent repairs to the A59 have resulted in its temporary closure between Bolton Abbey and Harrogate until next month, causing widespread traffic problems.

Mr Goodwill, the Minister of State for Transport, said he was pleased to see work is under way to stabilise the A59 at Kex Gill.

He also discussed the council's long-term management of flood issues.

“We have been listening to the county council’s proposals for responding to flooding more generally and in the long term,” said Mr Goodwill.

“North Yorkshire is doing the right thing by looking at strategic water management issues, including upstream measures. This means water can be held for longer in the uplands to prevent flooding in towns and villages.”

Cllr Les said it had been a very constructive meeting.

He added: “It has provided the county council with the chance to show the determined headway we have been making with the work to tackle flood damage at Kex Gill.

"These are complex, challenging operations requiring high skilled engineering, and we were delighted to be able to show the Minister our plans and give an update on the good progress we are making."