NEW flood defences in York and North Yorkshire could be built and operated by private companies – with local council taxpayers picking up the bill.

The coalition Government is reported to be exploring ways of making drastic cuts in the £700 million annual flood defence bill by attracting more private investment, and Yorkshire Water has called for further investigations into the idea.

One option is said to be allowing private companies to acquire and operate defences, with the costs possibly being passed on through a levy on the council tax.

But the ideas have met with a cautious and sceptical response from leading politicians and flood defence campaigners.

York MP Hugh Bayley said he would not object in principle, but said: “The question is whether it would produce new defences more efficiently and cheaply than the present system.”

He claimed it would be “completely unfair” if council tax payers in York were left to pick up the tab for new defences on the Ouse, dealing with floodwaters that originated miles upstream in other local authority areas.

York council leader Andrew Waller said he intended to raise questions at the next meeting of the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee later this month.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the Environment Agency had been increasingly encouraging local contributions towards the costs of new or improved defences.

Yorkshire Water privatising flood defences was something that should be debated and investigated further.