Ripon woman uses Alpaca power to tackle flood defences

Angela Whitlock has bought three alpacas after the Environment Agency created an 8ft high flood defence in the middle of her lawn – but refused to help with maintenance.

Mrs Whitlock, 49, bought the house on the banks of the River Ure in Ripon four years ago with her husband, two children and two step-children.

Environment Agency officers showed her plans of the £14.4m flood defence scheme before she bought it and said she would be compensated for expenses incurred while work was carried out.

However, after two years of being shut out of her three-acre garden and living with the mud, noise and work often carrying on into the night, Mrs Whitlock found she would not be eligible for compensation after all.

“When work was taking place to fit 30ft metal sheets deep into the ground, vibrations from the machinery caused cracks to appear in every room of our 17th Century house, and one on the front of the property,” she said.

“We also had to spend £5,000 to install a drainage system for our front drive because the agency also raised the height of the road, causing flooding in our cellar for the first time.

“We assumed we would be compensated, but we have now been told that because we moved in two months after the plans had been submitted we were not eligible.”

Mrs Whitlock asked the Agency to help with grass cutting on the steep mound that cuts her garden in half, but was told she could only have it cut once a year.

She added: “We got the alpacas – Mel, Millie and Lucy – because we couldn’t think of another way to cut the grass. It would be impossible with a normal lawn mower. I think we have been treated very unfairly.”

Environment Agency project manager Tim Cobb said: “Before we built the Ripon flood defences, this property experienced serious flooding, but it now has a very high standard of protection.

“We are in discussion with the resident about her concerns, and if she has further points to raise we would be happy to hear these.”