YORK’S ability to cope with the ravages of the winter weather is to be put under the spotlight by the city’s political leaders.

Sub-zero temperatures have led to a torrent of complaints about malfunctioning water supplies and burst pipes, with repair teams struggling to deal with the level of demand.

City of York Council’s executive member for city strategy, Coun Steve Galloway, has now called for a new “resilience plan” to be devised so York can face up to any repeat of the big freeze.

He said although the council’s ability to clear snow and ice from roads had been re-examined following last winter’s severe weather, the focus now had to turn to other services.

Coun Galloway said public services had experienced difficulties and said there were numerous complaints about failed water supplies and burst pipes.

He said the council would monitor river levels in York as the thaw continued, but said better round-the-clock communication between organisations was needed.

He said: “I will be asking council officials to review the water and heating supplies in council properties and to ensure we are able to deal quickly with faults affecting vulnerable residents.

“It may also be that we need to invest in more lagging supply pipes in some of our properties, and initiatives such as this should also form part of a general review of the winter arrangements.”