MEMORIES of the devastating floods of Boxing Day 2015 will be hard to erase.

But it is encouraging to see lessons are being learnt from those very dark days. Work is progressing on the upgrade of the Foss Barrier and pumping station and today we are happy to report on an improved flood-warning system for the river.

New monitoring stations have been put in place by the Environment Agency. One at Yearsley, 20 miles upstream from York, will measure rainfall levels, while a sister system at Strensall will check river levels. All this data will help record the flow of the Foss and give flood duty officers more accurate information in the event of a flood alert.

Crucially, this will give Environment Agency officers increased confidence in issuing flood warnings – and allow them to be given out earlier.

It will also allow for more flood warnings for York. Previously, the city had six. Now it will have ten, taking in South Beck and Westfield Beck.

Taken together, these improvements should mean that if York is deluged again, residents will have more time to move their possessions and escape to a place of safety.