THREE massive schemes to upgrade flood defences protecting more than 370 homes near York’s River Ouse were unveiled today.

The Environment Agency is looking to spend about £15 million on raising flood walls and embankments, building a new pumping station and upgrading another station alongside the river between the York outer ring road and Lendal Bridge.

Funding for the works will come from the £45 million provided by the Government to improve York’s defences in the wake of the devastating flooding of 2015.

Project manager Richard Lever said the agency wants to provide better protection for 170 homes in the Rawcliffe and Clifton area - where there was devastating flooding in 2000 - by raising the embankment and increasing its length towards the Park & Ride site and behind the Homestead and the YHA youth hostel.

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“We are also investigating building a pumping station on Blue Beck, which runs into the Ouse,” he said.

“The Rawcliffe flooding in 2000 was partly caused by Blue Beck backing up, and temporary pumps were brought in in 2015 to prevent that happening again when the Ouse again reached very high levels.”

He said the agency recognised that Clifton Ings and Rawcliffe Meadows were a widely used and much loved public amenity, as well as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and included important grasslands, the tansy beetle, bats and newts.

“We are currently involved in discussions with key partners, including Natural England, Sustrans and Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, in how we can minimise the impact on the habitat, cause the least inconvenience while work is being undertaken and maintain amenities when work is complete,” he said.

“Dependent on these discussions, we are aiming to submit the planning permission for this section before the end of the year.”

Mr Lever said he agency was working with partners, including Historic England, on options for flood defence improvements in Museum Gardens, which helped better protect about 55 homes in the Marygate area.

“This includes raising the current embankment at the bottom of Museum Gardens or looking at a flood wall running up the Marygate side of the gardens,” he said.

“We are also investigating the best way to raise and improve the flood gate at the bottom of Marygate.”

He said the agency first planned to upgrade the middle section of riverbank, from Clifton Bridge to Scarborough Bridge, in a bid to better protect 150 properties, the majority in Almery Terrace, Sycamore Terrace, Longfield Terrace and Bootham Terrace.

“Options include raising the existing flood wall at Almery Terrace and the embankment at the back of school playing fields, as well as extending the embankment,” he said.

“The preferred option for flood protection for the homes on Almery Terrace is to have reinforced glass added the top of the existing flood walls. However, it depends on the planning process.

“Plans also include upgrading the pumping capacity at Burdyke pumping station, which is situated in the middle of the open area between the two bridges. The dike is culverted from near Clifton Backies to where it enters the Ouse.”

As reported yesterday, the agency is holding a drop-in about the Scarborough Bridge -Clifton Bridge section at its community hub in Wellington Row from 12-7pm tomorrow, with the proposals remaining on display for a further four weeks.