21st Century flood defence system comes to Clementhorpe (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

21st Century flood defence system comes to Clementhorpe

April 1, 2008 7:06 PM

Cllr Andrew Waller with two of the flood defence modules in Clementhorpe

Flood Defence has been high on the agenda for the Lib Dem run City of York Council, and so today's launch of the Aquabarrier System in Clementhorpe marked a new chapter in flood protection in the city. The barriers are lightweight plastic units which link together and hold back the river. They will replace the current system of one tonne sandbags which are positioned when the River Ouse is predicted to reach a particular height in flood. This is a pilot which has been helped by a £50,000 contribution from the Environment Agency, and the considerable support of Birse Group who organised the launch today.

The system uses hollow plastic barriers which fill with water to enable them to stand up against the river in flood. There are rubber seals to prevent leakages and temporary stand by pump will remove any ground water that has built up behind the barrier.

The existing sandbag defences

Roadworks are underway to create a platform (similar to a speed table) which will have a groove in the centre to act as an anchor to the barrier modules. When the barrier in not in use the grooves will be filled with heavy duty rubber seals to leave a flat road surface. The scheme will be fully functional by June - in the meantime the traditional sandbags are available so the area is not undefended.

The system has been tested in a dry dock in Northumberland and will provide a greater protection to the residents of nearby properties.

In the 2000 floods 40 houses were flooded in River Street and Clementhorpe, and 50 more were cut off.

Cllr Andrew Waller, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Neighbourhoods said,

"Coping with flood events is something that we are used to in York, and if we can use a modern solution to assist residents then it shows that we are doing all that we can. I am grateful to Aquabarrier, Birse and the Environment Agency for the work that they have done to deliver this system to the city.

"At the same time the City Council is working through the planning process to ensure that new developments have Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and sustainability assessments to ensure that they don't add to flooding problems. Through the "local levy" paid by local councils York is helping to fund schemes to slow down run-off from upland areas which will reduce the peak height of river floods."