DEFENCES that failed to work properly and neglected drains have been blamed for flood problems that threatened hundreds of York homes.

New reports have examined the causes of three major flooding incidents last year in Badger Hill and Leeman Road. Roads in both areas closed as heavy rain swamped the city.

The findings said the Leeman Road flooding last September and November, which saw water flow out of drains around Salisbury Road and Salisbury Terrace and reach the doorsteps of homes, was due to “ineffective operation” of flood defence measures on Yorkshire Water’s sewer systems.

Council officers said they had previously raised concerns with water bosses about how the system operated.

A report into the Badger Hill problems during an “intense rainstorm” last June said several factors led to water leaking into 19 homes and into the gardens and driveways of 40 others around Yarburgh Way, Crossways and Bishopsway.

They included “lack of knowledge of critical drainage infrastructure” and a lack of maintenance by parties including the council, Yorkshire Water and Archbishop Holgate’s School, stretching back several years.

The council said it would investigate claims by residents that a ditch on the grounds of Badger Hill Primary School had been filled in and this was among the reasons gardens flooded.

The findings also highlighted a lack of Hull Road drainage records and blocked and broken gullies in the area, and said building debris left in some gullies by residents had added to the risk.

However, they said neither the council nor Yorkshire Water had received flooding complaints in the past.

In a written report, the council’s flood risk manager, Michael Tavener, said the Hull Road drainage system had been cleaned and Yorkshire Water had ensured its storm water tanks in Badger Hill “function as designed” after they were deemed “ineffective” last June.

Mr Tavener said the water company had reviewed its “maintenance and operational” procedures in the Leeman Road area to “ensure future resilience during flood events”, and was making sure improved flood defences which will be built this year are not “compromised by shortcomings in the sewerage system”.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: “Millions of pounds have been spent in recent years bolstering and improving drainage systems and creating flood defences, which have helped to significantly reduce the risk of flooding in many communities.

“However, we recognise there’s more that can be done and more that needs to be done going forward. We’re committed to playing our part to do what we can to better protect communities from the risk of flooding.”

Jeffrey Clark, 87, whose home in Yarburgh Way, Badger Hill, was affected by last June’s floods, said: “I am worried that what happened last year could happen again, and the drainage situation should have been dealt with a long time ago.

“If there had been adequate cleaning of the drains over a period of years, last year’s floods would probably never have happened.”

In December, The Press revealed a council study had shown decades of under-investment and lack of maintenance had increased York’s flood risk, warning £5 million would have to be spent to bring the authority’s drains up to standard as they were unable to cope with even minor floods.

Mr Tavener’s report will go before City of York Council’s cabinet member for transport, Coun Dave Merrett later this month.

Coun Merrett said: “These are two important reports under the council’s new duty to investigate surface water flood events.

“They highlight the issues involved, and the need for partnership working by the Council and other organisations like Yorkshire Water if we are to prevent repeats.”