HOPES of finally starting a £5 million pound York flood defence project before the third anniversary of the disastrous Boxing Day flooding of 2015 have been dashed.

Technical problems have arisen in the Environment Agency’s scheme to better protect almost 150 homes in the Clementhorpe area from being inundated by the River Ouse.

Now it is having to make some significant changes to the design and work on the ground is not now set to start until late spring 2019.

The work would have been the first scheme to get underway across the city using £45 million given to York by the Government in the wake of the 2015 floods.

Ben Hughes, project director for the agency’s York Flood Alleviation Scheme, said it had been assessing the site and buildings around Clementhorpe and Terry Avenue, as well as engaging with residents, and it had concerns over the current planned works.

“As a result of this we need to review our plans and carry out further structural surveys,” he said. “Unfortunately this has resulted in a slight delay to the start of the work.

“We are as disappointed as anyone that we are not on the ground before Christmas but public safety is critical in all the work that we do and we would not want to endanger anybody or buildings.”

He said changes included building a demountable flood barrier about 10 metres further along the street called Clementhorpe from the river and building a new flood barrier along the front of a building in Terry Avenue, called Waterfront House.

He said the delayed start should not cause a delay in the scheduled completion, as works could be telescoped.

He added that several other flood defence schemes, better protecting areas including North Street and communities alongside the Ouse between Lendal Bridge and the York Outer Ring Road, were also due to get under way in 2019.

Cllr Andrew Waller, City of York Council’s executive member with responsibility for flood defences, said he had been pressing the agency to get on and deliver projects on the ground, as it has been frustrating to residents who wanted to make sure schemes were delivered as quickly as possible and were up to the job of defending them.

“It is vital that all parts of the city feel that they are getting a share in the scheme, and so we have quarterly updates in public with council and EA (Environment Agency) officers to let residents, and ward councillors have their say,” he said.

“With so many schemes across the city about to come to fruition it is vital that delays are overcome.

“The council will work with the agency to progress flood defence work, and this is a huge project for the city for which I am battling to ensure that there is sufficient funding to deliver in the long term.

“Council officers are also working with communities to develop greater flood resilience, and supporting volunteers.”