ANGRY councillors have hit out at Environment Agency "insensitivity" after vital flood defence work was put on the back burner.

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway told yesterday's executive meeting that the authority should now lobby the agency and MPs over plans to effectively defer barrier work.

The Evening Press yesterday reported claims that the decision could leave several hundred homes in Clementhorpe, South Esplanade, Fulford, Naburn and Clifton waiting more than a decade for flood protection.

But the agency said work was now overtaken by a new, £50 million "strategic study" of Ouse defence work, launched in April.

Coun Galloway told the meeting: "It now seems a probability that works scheduled to start next year may in fact now be shelved for several years. These properties are vulnerable and need some interim protection."

Coun Galloway, attacking the agency's "lack of sensitivity", said: "Expectations have been raised in these areas and we do expect the agency to respect this and do something about it."

Labour leader Dave Merrett said after the meeting: "We were expecting permanent defence work at South Esplanade to start next year."

He slammed the agency for focusing on large projects that protect communities from flooding "once every 80 years", but leaving smaller places at higher risk vulnerable.

An agency spokeswoman said the long-term plan included flood-busting measures upstream to protect all of York.

But she said: "We are conducting a longer study that will take into account all the options, instead of just dealing with each place individually."

She said: "There have been a lot of crossed wires over what we are doing, which is to get the best flood defences for York."

Meanwhile, councillors heard that the option of buying moveable flood barriers had been considered for use in more than one area in York. Members agreed to investigate costs and suitable sites for such barriers.

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, November 19, 2003