After the flood: thanks all round (From York Press)

After the flood: thanks all round

9:18am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Letters By Readers' letters

THE COORDINATED efforts of the emergency services, agencies and City of York Council involved in limiting the extent and impact of last week’s flooding around York was exceptional.

I want to thank all those who put their expertise into action to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors and to keep York open for business.

I saw for myself the rapid response of City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council, the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Ambulance services, Yorkshire Water and the Health Protection Agency when I visited the control centre, inspected damage and also the clean-up operation around the city, including the Leeman Road area which is in my ward.

City of York Council’s efforts are now focused on supporting those directly affected by the flood with assistance additional to our existing advice and support services.

Coun James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council.

 

• MANY thanks to the City of York Council team involved in the Fordlands Road ferrying of passengers through the floods, and the sandbagging of the vulnerable properties.

I guess these arrangements are put in place at short notice, but it seems to be more frequent now. I hope some thought can be given to how less agile people can climb in out of the lorries.

Is it too late for Germany Beck developers to incorporate a user-friendly footbridge into their plans for the new road junction, because I am not too sure they will ‘design out’ the future flooding?

Alan Smith, Fordlands Road, Fulford, York.

 

• BEFORE everything surrounding the flood dies down, I would like to send heartfelt thanks to the drivers of City of York Council.

They enabled the residents of Fulford around the Fordlands Road area, who were cut off by the flood, to cross the flood waters in the council lorries and get to work, school or wherever necessary. As a visitor to, and soon to be resident of, York, I very much appreciated the cheerful way they helped everyone out, often over an 16-hour working day ferrying people over the flood waters. Thank you and job well done.

David Tither, Albuquerque, USA.

 

• I WOULD be the first to say that I am far from being religious, but travelling home one day last week the sight I saw along Tadcaster Road may make me think twice.

It appeared that the floods may have been sent from somebody upstairs!

The sight I saw in many countries would have been classed a miracle: yes, all those commuters who thanks to the flooding discovered their legs were working again and they could walk. This was good to see not only for the environment but also for their health.

Well done to them and maybe to him upstairs.

Ian Stabler, Copmanthorpe, York.

 

• I LIVED in York until I left in my 50s. During that time there were many floods; it was an annual event at Leeman Road, Skeldergate, round Clifton Green and other areas.

I think Leeman Road people suffered the most. My mother-in-law and her family had lived there for many years and the house was permanently damp. Furniture was stacked on the dining table and they were rowed out to find shelter until the flood subsided and they could go home and clean up.

The whole area is liable to flooding and there was no barrier in those days; families just had to put up with it. Entertainment was supplied by the Jubilee and the working men’s club and that was about it.

My mother-in-law raised three boys and three girls in the two-bedroom house; they all went to the slipper baths. It was a very depressing place to visit in those days, with very little money or luxuries about.

Several young men were, I understand, on the Royal Navy vessel The Hood when it was torpedoed Many railway men resided there, of course. There was a sense of community and people were fiercely loyal to the area.

Audrey Richardson, Purcellville, USA