Two towns in North Yorkshire are preparing for very different summers, even though they are just 11 minutes apart. Guisborough and Skelton-in-Cleveland are separated by just three miles, but only one of them will be affected by a hosepipe ban being introduced today.
Yorkshire Water confirmed on Tuesday, July 8 that a hosepipe ban will come into force on Friday, July 11, leaving residents with only days to prepare for the restrictions. The ban forbids seven common household uses of water, including filling paddling pools, watering gardens, and washing cars, as reservoir levels drop after what’s been described as the driest spring on record.
The Environment Agency declared a drought in the region in June, prompting Yorkshire Water to act after what it called “alarming low levels” in its reservoirs.
But as YorkshireLive reports, not all parts of the area will be impacted, and some residents are frustrated.
While Skelton-in-Cleveland falls within Yorkshire Water’s supply area, Guisborough does not.
Despite being part of North Yorkshire, Guisborough is supplied by Northumbrian Water and is not subject to the ban.
Simon Jackson, who owns The Flower Box in Guisborough, said: “We are lucky that it hasn’t affected us.
“We use a lot of water as we not only run the flower shop but also a garden centre in town but it would not affect us as a business anyways as businesses are allowed to use some water to keep the business running.
“However we would be concerned as homeowners as we are quite keen gardeners at home. It would be sad to see flowers that you put in die due to the lack of water.”
Jannette Haseltine, owner of The Kiosk, said: “We would worry if we also get a water ban, as my garden would die.
“But thankfully it would not affect us as a business, as we just used bottled water for everything anyways. So if it did happen then we would be ok.”
But across the boundary in Skelton, residents say the ban is “unfair” and has come too late to prepare for.
Parent Callum Varley said: “It just seems so unfair that a ban has been put into place just before the summer holidays.
“What are they going to do in the nice weather? We normally fill paddling pools for kids when it’s hot, so we cannot do that for them under the ban.”
Another resident, Mr Jones, said he had just paid £3,000 for a new garden. “We also put some turf down and it’s going to be ruined now if we can’t water it as much as it’s needed. All that money will have gone to waste. I’m furious.”
One woman said: “Why are we being punished? I bet we still have to pay for the water we are not allowed to use. It just seems unprofessional and underprepared.”
Others are hoping rain will arrive soon and end the restrictions. “I think we will manage,” one local said, “but it will be tough.”