Local MP, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, was highly critical of Yorkshire Water's approach to flooding issues in Bishop Monkton during an interview with 'Bishop Monkton Today' while on a visit to the village yesterday. Sir Alec, who spent forty five minutes chatting to people at the Methodist Chapel Village Coffee, described the company's attitide as "lackadaisical" and said he was frustrated by their failure to follow up on agreed actions from his meeting with them more than a month ago. Sir Alec also told us that he would be raising the issue of flooding in his constituency in a debate in Parliament next Monday.

We have approached Yorkshire Water for comment.

The MP, who was elected for the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, which includes Bishop Monkton, at the General Election in July, discussed a range of topics with villagers including the Labour Government's plans to increase inheritance tax on farming, the removal of the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners and his thoughts on the future of the Conservative Party after the election of its new leader last weekend.

More than thirty people attended the Coffee Morning. Our full interview with him, talking about his background, his views on local and national issues and even on the US election will be posted here on 'Bishop Monkton Today' in the next few days.