Have your say on York's flood risk strategy

YORK'S new draft flood risk strategy pulls no punches. The risk of flooding to homes and businesses in York isn't going to go away. Quite the opposite. "Flood risk is predicted to increase due to climate change," the report says.

Almost 4,000 properties in York are at risk from flooding of the Ouse, the Foss and their tributaries. Most of these properties are protected by flood defences. "But further work is needed to ensure their effectiveness following climatic change," the document says.

It is not only properties near to the rivers and waterways that are at risk of flooding, either. Homes and businesses elsewhere in the city can be at risk of flash flooding during heavy rain because "drainage networks can be overwhelmed".

The Flood And Water Management Act of 2010 was introduced following the severe, countrywide floods of 2007, which affected more than 55,000 homes and businesses across the UK and caused £3 billion worth of damage. This gave local authorities such as City of York Council major new responsibilities to take the lead in managing local flood risks.

The council's draft strategy – full title the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy – is York's response to the Act. The strategy document sets out how the authority will work with other flood management agencies such as the Environment Agency, other local authorities and the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to improve York's flood defences in the years ahead.

It includes an 'action plan' of work that will be needed to protect York from flooding, and also identifies potential sources of funding.

On these pages we set out some of the proposals. But before the strategy is adopted, the council wants residents to have their say. The flood-risk document sets out a plan for how to protect York from flooding. But has the council got its priorities right? Are there any gaps in its proposals? Is there anything you'd like to see being done differently?

"We want to hear from anybody and everybody," says Steve Wragg, York's flood-risk manager.

Residents can comment on some of the major proposals contained in the document, Mr Wragg says – or simply tell the council about their own experiences of coping with flooding: whether it is roads that flood, or footpaths that are difficult to use when the flood waters rise.

Even if your comments don't lead to a major change in the flood risk document, they may well help the council understand the way flooding affects people across the city.

In a panel on this page, we explain how you can make your views known.

So do tell the council what you think. As Mr Wragg says, flooding is something that will affect the people of this city for years to come.

• THE flood risk management strategy contains several pages of outline proposals for how to better protect York against flooding in the years ahead. Here are a few of the key proposals. You can find out more by looking at the strategy. Hard copies are available from West Offices or city libraries, or you can view the strategy online at www.york.gov.uk/floodriskstrategy

Upgrading existing flood defences

York's flood defences have served the city well. But they are ageing, and many were built before we understood the full impact of climate change.

From 2016 onwards, the strategy talks about spending £25 million – at a rate of £5 million a year – on substantially upgrading or replacing many of York's key flood defences, such as the Foss Barrier. The money could come from a range of sources, including DEFRA, the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, the Environment Agency, water companies, the city council itself, and from 'planning gain' in which developers are asked to contribute to the cost of flood protection.

This major programme of work is a medium to long-term aim. In the shorter term, the strategy suggests:

• A £2 million 'renewal and maintenance' of the Foss Barrier to ensure it is up to the job of protecting the heart of York until more major improvements can be made

• A £3.5 million programme of 'appraisal and replacements' at the Burdyke and Holgate pumping stations

• £1.5 million to restore and reinforce the Clifton Ings barrier bank

In the medium term, and depending on funding, the strategy also proposes spending £5 million on "a range of measures to reduce the impact of flooding in... unprotected areas of York – Bishopthorpe, Acaster Malbis, Fulford, Clementhorpe, Naburn, King's Staith/ Tower Street, [and] Nether Poppleton".

Precisely what form such measures would take hasn't yet been detailed, Mr Wragg admits. But including such an aim in the strategy ensures it won't be forgotten.

Dealing with flash floods and surface water

The strategy sets out a number of key measures and aims, some of which are already happening. They include:

Ensuring, through the planning process, that major new developments have sustainable surface-water drainage systems in place

£100,000 per annum to strengthen the council's flood risk team so engineers can advise developers on sustainable drainage

Working with other local authorities (for example North Yorkshire County Council, which has just produced its own flood risk strategy) to encourage more joined-up thinking, so that flood alleviation programmes in one area don't simply cause more problems elsewhere.

Using flood defences to enable regeneration of brownfield sites

The key brownfield site in York is York Central, behind the railway station. The strategy suggests the possibility that £2.5 million of investment in flood defences could make the redevelopment of the site for much-needed new homes and office space much easier.

How to make your views known

The flood risk management strategy is out to consultation now, until December 17

You can see hard copies of the strategy at West Offices or at York libraries. Alternatively, you can see the document online at york.gov.uk/floodriskstrategy

To have your say, phone 01904 551550; email frm@york.gov.yk or comment online via www.york.gov.uk/floodriskstrategy

Once the consultation process is complete, any changes will need to be approved by the council's Cabinet. The aim will then be to publish the final strategy in 2015. The strategy will then be regularly updated in future.