York flood scheme continues in line with Covid-19 guidelines
Work is continuing on the York flood alleviation scheme to better protect properties in the city from the effects of flooding, the Environment Agency has said.
One of the new flood gates at North Street working in the recent flooding, part of the £45 million York flood defence scheme
The organisation has, however, said in light of the Coronavirus situation and Government advice it is cancelling all public meetings until it is safe to hold them again.
Ben Hughes, project director of the scheme, said:
We are doing all we can to ensure work continues as much as is feasible, and that delays caused by the knock-on effects of this pandemic are kept to an absolute minimum.
Our priority in these difficult times is the health, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff, so we have closed our drop-in hub on Wellington Row and we will not be holding any public engagement events.
As an organisation we are doing everything we can to support our community, our government and the NHS by abiding by these measures.
The Agency recently completed work to raise the height of the North Street flood defence, which successfully handled its first test when the city suffered flooding earlier this year.
The work saw new flood gates installed, including a new wider gate to allow better flow for pedestrians into North Street gardens.
Mr Hughes said:
This February was the wettest since records began, with peak river levels at the Viking recorder reaching 4.47m. During this time the gates and wall did their job.
To complete this flood cell and increase the level of protection to properties in this area we still need to replace the floodgate under Lendal arch which is programmed for this September.
Work is also due to continue on raising the embankment between Water End bridge and Scarborough Bridge, behind St Peter’s School.
Two of the flood ‘cells’ that make up the wider York flood alleviation scheme – Clementhorpe and the Foss flood storage area – are due to be heard by the local authority planning committees next month.
The Clementhorpe scheme, which will better protect 135 homes, is due to be heard by City of York Council planning committee on 9 April.
Plans include a floodgate at the junction of Clementhorpe and Terry Avenue, as well as flood defence walls at Waterfront House and Lower Ebor Street.
There will also be additional flood defences built behind Rowntree Park and the adjoining caravan park.
The Foss flood storage area would be built north of Strensall on the River Foss. It would hold back water and slow the flow back into the city in times of heavy rainfall.
Along with the upgraded Foss Barrier, this would better protect more than 1,000 properties along the Foss corridor, such as Huntington Road.
Due to the flood storage area straddling two local authorities, the planning application will be heard by both Ryedale District Council and City of York Council.
A planning application has also been submitted for flood defence work at Bishopthorpe, but due to bird nesting session we may not be able to start work until September.
Mr Hughes added that his team is currently going through a period of readjustment to widespread home working, and we are putting systems in place to support this.
He said they will continue to monitor the York flood alleviation scheme mailbox (yorkfloodplan@environment-agency.gov.uk) and respond to correspondence when and where possible.
If you want to find out about flood risk in your area, up-to-date information can be found by clicking here or you can call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.