THE blueprint for tackling York's flooding problems in the 21st century will finally be published next month - weeks after dire warnings of what might happen if action is not taken.

The long-awaited Ouse Flood Risk Management Strategy will come five years after the devastating floods of November 2000, and follow the warnings of a University of York professor that the city could face abandonment within 30 years unless climate change is tackled and regional flood risks are reduced.

York councillor Andrew Waller referred to the warnings of Professor John Whitelegg at a meeting yesterday of the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee, saying it suggested we should "prepare for the abandonment of York or we are doomed".

He said it was essential to improve understanding of the implications of climate change without "scaring people witless", and asked for assurances that global warming will be taken account of in the strategy document.

Peter Holmes, the Environment Agency's Dales area flood risk manager, said the proposals would do so. The document is expected to identify a range of possible measures to reduce flood risk in York including land use changes upstream in the Pennines to slow down rainfall run-off into streams and rivers.

Meanwhile, City of York Council's leaders told about a series of steps being taken in York to deal with future flood emergencies.

A report by scrutiny officer Ruth Sherratt said a full emergency simulation exercise was recently held in York involving all the relevant agencies.

It said a number of parish councils across the district had expressed an interest in creating community emergency plans to help with any future incidents.

One parish, Naburn, had completed its plan, and it was ready for launch.

The report said the council's community services department now maintained a list of potential locations across the city for emergency rest centres, utilising parish and church halls in all ward areas.

The report said that a protocol had now been set up with all news outlets for the dissemination of information during an emergency from the council and external agencies.

Updated: 10:13 Friday, October 07, 2005