LESSONS need to be learned to ensure people's homes and businesses are protected from future flooding, a city chief said today.

Andrew Waller commended the Environment Agency and council teams for working tirelessly to limit the impact of this week's deluge of high water.

But he said improvements could still be made in the handling of such situations, and he stressed the need for work to start on defending Fulford Road against rising waters.

Coun Waller is also urging communities such as flood-hit Naburn to bid for cash from the flood defence levy for projects similar to the new Elvington defence scheme.

As reported yesterday, thousands of motorists were caught up in major queues on Wednesday after the A19 was closed because water from the beck had covered Fulford Road.

Persimmon Homes Yorkshire told The Press it hoped to start work on raising the height of the A19 above flood level within two years, providing the Germany Beck 700-home scheme was granted.

Coun Waller, who is York Council's representative on the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee, said: "I think the advice could be further improved from the Environment Agency. There are some lessons that need to be learnt in terms of giving councils and parish councils more warning.

"There's been a lot of good work done by the Environment Agency and council staff in dealing with the high water, but any improvements we can make about the advice to the public and emergency plans should be done.

"The Ouse is the highest level it has been since 2000. More of the properties that escaped last year have been affected this year."

An Environment Agency spokeswoman defended its response, saying officers had followed a "well-rehearsed plan of action". This includes meeting on Tuesday with the York Flood Group, which will involve emergency service and City of York Council officers.

"At the meeting one of our officers gave the up-to-date forecast we were expecting which was a level of 4.5 metres for the River Ouse which is what it reached in the end. The police put signs out warning drivers to take caution on the A19. At some point it would have been passable with caution but the situation got worse. We know it only needed to get to 4.3 metres to start affecting the road. We all knew what the situation was." A council spokeswoman said a lot of hard work had gone into dealing with the floods.

"The council has worked closely with the emergency services, utility providers, the Environment Agency and residents and businesses to minimise the impact of the high river level on the city."


Moyra's lucky escape

HER home has been flooded half a dozen times since she moved in more than 60 years ago.

But 92-year-old Moyra Johnson was spared from going through the same experience once more this week.

The pensioner said floodwaters from the River Ouse came within about six inches of her home in Tower Place, situated between Clifford's Tower and the river.

"They had said it would rise to between 14 and a half feet and 15 and a half feet," she said.

"If it had reached 15ft, 3 inches, it would have been over the doorstep and into my home. But it reached about 14 ft 7ins."

She said a pump and sandbags had also helped to keep the floodwaters out of her home, which was last flooded in November 2000, when the waters came up to her windowsill and a major refurbishment was needed.

She remained philosophical about the risks, and said she had no intention of leaving.

"I've been here since 1947," she said. "I moved in just after the big flood of that year."We've been flooded six or seven times since then. It's what you expect occasionally if you live here. I don't think you can defend these properties from flooding."


:: Video report from Germany Beck

:: David Dunning reports on the level of flooding in the Shipton area of York

:: Aerial footage showing some of the flooded areas of York