Ouse well defended from flooding

The 2000 floods were the worst in York since records began

York and Selby are well-protected from flooding but more needs to be done to deal with effects of climate change, according to the Environment Agency.

Experts have spent two years looking at the risk of flooding along the Ouse in North and East Yorkshire.

They say that despite floods which hit homes in York in 2000, flood protection is "relatively good".

Instead of building more man-made defences, the experts recommend better land management and new washlands.

Work with nature

Flood risk engineer Mike Dugher said: "With the onset of climate change and the increasing extremes of weather this brings we cannot continue to think about flood defence solely in terms of building walls along riverbanks - this is just not sustainable.

"What we need to do is consider how we can work with nature rather than battling it head-on and making better use of nature's own flood defences - washlands - is one sensible and sustainable option."

However, Environment Agency officers are recommending some new barrier schemes in the Water End and Leeman Road area of York and further downstream at Stillingfleet.

Dealing with the serious floods in York in the autumn of 2000 cost the City of York Council £1.3m.

A report published by the York Flood Scrutiny Panel concluded that residents in some areas of the city were let down by the very agencies that should have protected them.

The 2000 floods were the worst in York since records began and the River Ouse reached a height of 17ft 8ins above its normal summer level.

Some 40 people were moved from their homes and two rest centres were opened in the city for flood victims.