Plans for removable barriers which would be used instead of sandbags to protect York homes and businesses from flooding have been approved despite concerns from those living nearby.
Environment Agency plans are set to see the barriers deployed across Tower Street during floods to stop water from the River Ouse reaching the River Foss.
Mark Fuller, of the Environment Agency, told councillors the barrier could be put up more quickly than sandbags and works related to the scheme would protect hundreds of nearby homes.
But nearby resident John Dench claimed the defences offered them no protection and it could see flood water channelled towards their homes.
The Environment Agency’s scheme is set to see retaining walls built in front of the York Crown Court embankment to support the barrier.
Walls on the eastern side of St Georges Field gardens are also set to be strengthened.
Works are set to allow the deployment of flood barriers at the top of the stairs leading to Tower Street.
Existing flood defences at Skeldergate Bridge are also set to be strengthened within St Georges Field car park.
A new wall set to be built from the bridge around the Foss Barrier Pumping Station connecting to the car park’s access ramp which is set to be raised.
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The council’s Planning Committee B heard the removable barrier would be stored at the Environment Agency’s depot in Selby and could be transported and deployed to York when needed.
The plans were drawn up following floods in 2015 and the Environment Agency estimates that they could protect 627 homes from flooding.
Council planning officers recommended the plans for approval.
The Agency’s Flood Risk Manager Mr Fuller told the committee on Thursday, September 26 that those affected in 2015 were keen to see the scheme approved.
Mr Fuller said: “The impact of not completing this project could be devastating for homes and businesses along the Foss corridor as well as putting key transport links in the city at risk.
“If water goes 5m above normal levels there’s a real risk that it could come over the top of the River Ouse into the River Foss, water would be pumped round in circles in the Foss basin and that would be catastrophic.
“We’re proposing to replace sandbags with something that’s more modern and quicker to deploy.”
But residents living off Tower Street including in Peckitt Street and South Esplanade claimed the scheme would leave them unprotected by holding water by their homes.
Resident Mr Dench told councillors the Environment Agency had been unable to persuade them to support the scheme.
The resident said: “The problem we have is water coming from up from the water table more than flooding from the rivers.
“Our concern is that this will see water circulated through the foundations of our home and bring up the sub-soil.
“We don’t know what that does to our foundations.
“We want a wider scheme that brings our homes into the same level of protection as the others.”
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