The trees are going

Tree felling work was going on today in the Museum Gardens.

There is a project in the area which will see flood resilience improved.

Not everyone will be pleased to see the loss of mature tree canopies.

Still the work does provide at least a short term opportunity to view the Yorkshire Museum and The Hospitium from normally obstructed angles.

Work on new Foss barrier progressing

Work on the replacement Foss barrier is progressing again as river levels fall.

The huge new gate was lifted into place last month

The original barrier was installed in 1987 but was overwhelmed in the 2015 floods.

A new pumping house has been installed along with the barrier and improved banking.

The cost of the project is put at £37 million.

In a separate scheme, the nearby “Blue Bridge” cycle and pedestrian facility was also refurbished last year.

After the snow may come the floods

Forecasters are saying that it will get warmer next week.

With the thaw will come rain and concerns about flooding.

The worse floods in York have usually occurred when the ground has been saturated, where there has also been rapid snow melt upstream and when this has coincided with heavy rain.

We hope this doesn’t happen next week.

Meanwhile we have had some rare winter views to enjoy in and around the City over the last few days.

Playground tidy up call

Local residents have asked the Council to deal with maintenance issues at the Grange Lane park.

Complaints have been raised about littering but some of the equipment is unusable as a result of vandalism, graffiti, muddy entrances and missing safety surfaces under the swings.

Safety surfaces have sunk
Signs have been vandalised
Play equipment needs cleaning
Litter reported earlier in the week

The Council also promised to put hardcore down on parts of the footpath link from Grange Lane to Westfield Place where it is subject to flooding. This work hasn’t been done yet. It needs to be completed before the wetter winter months arrive.

The path is now being used occasionally by cyclists as a short cut. Some arrangements for them could be made at relatively little cost.

Use by walkers has also increased since lock-down started.

Park footpath needs hardcore in some places to prevent flooding

Flooding report – February 2020 wettest on record

£4.9 million cost for pumping station to protect Fordlands Road area.

It cost the City of York council £180,000 to respond to and recover from the floods which took place in the City in February.  This was the wettest February on record, with the most flood warnings issued in any one day across England. Rainfall fell on already saturated ground increasing the impacts.

The Council will consider a report on the problem at a meeting next week.

There is some debate about the apparently conflicting advice issued by local agencies and the information included on government river gauge web sites.

Generally flood defences held well although there were issues in the Fulford/Fordlands Road/Germany Beck area. A separate report on flood prevention plans for that area can be read by clicking here.

The preferred option would include the construction of a £4.9 million pumping station. If funding for the project can be found the work could start on construction next summer.

The meeting will also consider the latest Environment Agency report on its flood prevention works programme

Environment Agency Work Programme 2020

Drainage ditch plea

It is the time of year when drainage ditches and becks can become overgrown. When water volumes are generally low, it is important that the opportunity is taken to clear vegetation and debris from the channels.

That is particularly challenging at present because of coronavirus restrictions.

We were pleased to see that local Councillor Andrew Waller is pressing the Marston Moor IDB to ensure that maintenance work continues.

Failure to do so could lead to flooding when wet weather returns.

Weed growth impeding Hob Moor (Holgate) beck

Recovery fund made available for flood affected businesses in York

A partnership between City of York Council and Make It York has secured funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership for businesses affected by the recent floods.

A grant of up to £2,500 per business has been made available by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for flood incurred damage costs that are not covered by business insurance policies.

Council officers are going door-to-door, visiting businesses who have been affected by the recent flooding to provide an update on the current situation in York and answer any potential queries.

As part of the engagement, businesses are being notified of the additional funding to support the clean-up and help alleviate costs incurred by flood water.

The business recovery fund is open for application for flood affected businesses and eligibility will be determined by evidence provided. Funding is not guaranteed for flood damaged businesses.

To submit an application form via Make It York, please visit: www.makeityork.com or email business@makeityork.com

Businesses and residents are also invited to attend flood drop-in sessions to discuss support before, during and after a flood in the near future:

  • Tower Gardens and King’s Staith

16 March | Quaker Meeting House, YO1 9RL | 5-7pm

  • Naburn

17 March | Naburn Village Hall, YO19 4RS | 5-7pm

  • Fulford

18 March | Fulford School (Main Hall), YO10 4FY | 5-7 pm

  • Skeldergate and Clementhorpe

23 March | Southlands Methodist Church, YO23 1NX| 5-7pm

  • Acaster Malbis

24 March | Acaster Malbis Village Hall, YO23 2TR | 5 -7pm

(more…)

Still problems with cycle network in York

Its not just the burgeoning number of potholes that are causing problems for cyclists. The Council has fallen behind in many areas with its white line refreshment programme.

Clifton Bridge cycle lane almost disappeared
More instances on graffiti reported today. This one near the Ouse riverbank