RESIDENTS warmly welcomed plans to boost flood defences in a vulnerable York community, saying: "It's not before time."

The Evening Press reported last night how the Environment Agency wants to spend between £1.5 million and £2 million raising and strengthening earthen flood embankments protecting hundreds of homes in the Leeman Road area.

The proposal, contained in the agency's Ouse Flood Risk Management Strategy, comes five years after the defences only just succeeded in containing flood water from the River Ouse in November 2000.

Waters came close to spilling over and there was a possibility of the bank collapsing.

Residents said they had been concerned the river might rise as high again - and that next time that defences might fail.

"It's not before time," said Derek Drysdale, of Swinerton Avenue, who like many residents had to take furniture upstairs in 2000 in case the area flooded.

He called for steel piling inside the embankments to ensure they could withstand the biggest floods.

Neighbour Lynne Heard agreed, saying: "The embankment is full of molehills. I think they might not survive another flood - they might just collapse.

"It needs to be done sooner rather than later."

Tracey Simpson-Laing, a councillor who lives in Carnot Street, said she helped lay sandbags on top of the embankment in 2000 in case they were overtopped, and she welcomed plans to raise them higher.

She said: "It was only an inch off the top of the embankment then. I would like to see them at least half-a-metre higher and they do need strengthening.

"But they (the agency) also needs to look at the drains. There's no point in having stronger embankments if floodwaters can come up through the drains. But the agency is not sure who is responsible for the drains."

Martin Bartlett, one of the local Holgate ward councillors, said he welcomed the proposed improvements, but was concerned because the agency said it might take five years for them to be carried out.

"I think they deserve a higher priority," he said. He also raised concerns about local drains, saying it needed to be clearly established who had responsibility for them.

Proposals to be explained

ENVIRONMENT chiefs are being asked to send residents leaflets to explain the proposed flood defence improvements - and also to explain why other areas are not set to see any new defences.

Councillor Andrew Waller, who is City of York Council's representative on the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee, said he was pleased defences in the Leeman Road area were set to be upgraded.

He said: "However, some undefended areas of York will not see any improvements under this plan.

"Major flood defence schemes are now decided centrally rather than in the regions, and so we have lost out in this respect."

He said there was severe competition for funding, and York, which already had some existing hard defences, had been ranked as a lower priority by the Environment Agency.

He said details from the Environment Agency were needed as to exactly when the Leeman Road upgrade would take place.

Coun Waller said: "I would also like more information about the proposal to reduce the flood height of the Ouse before it hits York."

He said at a briefing for councillors by the agency, members asked it to leaflet all affected residents to explain what would be happening and, in cases where works were not going to take place, to explain why.

We asked Leeman Road residents for their views on the plans to strengthen the flood defences.

Jennifer Stevenson, of Swinerton Avenue: "It's a great idea. I would like it to happen as soon as possible."

Anne Neviani, of Swinerton Avenue: "I am all for it. It's (flooding) always a worry."

Derek Toyne, of Swinerton Avenue: "It's very good. I would prefer to see it sooner than later."

Jackie Stokes, of Carnot Street: "It's a fantastic idea. We need it. But some of the embankment has sunk, and raising it half-a-metre might only get it back to the height it was originally."

Rachel Bowling, of Lincoln Street: "It's a good idea. I also like the idea of reducing river levels in York by using natural methods higher up the Ouse."

Updated: 10:10 Thursday, November 17, 2005