Tracey Hollis - 22-Jan-2008
- Environment Agency staff have been clearing
debris from a screen at the Foss Barrier,
to prepare for increasing
river levels on the River Ouse at York in
the next 24 hours.
The Foss Barrier has
been operating for a week, and its pumps
have been operating for seven days to stop
the river levels on the Foss from increasing
flood waters on the River Ouse.
A weedscreen at the
barrier guards the pumps from debris and
a mechanised grab is used to remove blockages
from the screen. The mechanical screen grab
has removed more than five skip loads of
debris in the last week. This could cause
increased flood risk if not removed.
Steve Wragg at the Environment
Agency said: “Our work at the barrier is
crucial to manage river levels on the Ouse,
which are due to peak Wednesday after heavy
rainfall, and flooding elsewhere in the
region.
“We are currently watching
the river levels on the River Ouse very
closely, especially as it peaks at York,
Naburn, Cawood and Selby.
“We put a severe flood
warning in place for Naburn at 5pm today,
and other flood warnings are in place, so
we would urge residents to be vigilant and
monitor local media.
The Foss Barrier was
built in 1989 as part of a flood alleviation
scheme following the 1982 floods. It is
located at St Georges Field in York where
the River Foss meets the River Ouse. The
barrier is a 16 tonne gate which is lowered
into the River Foss to stop the Foss levels
from rising flood waters on the River Ouse.
It also has eight pumps
capable of pumping 32 cubic metres of water
per second – which is one tonne of water
every second.
There are 560 properties
at risk on the River Foss and they depend
on the operation of the barrier. Many other
tributaries drain into the Foss and their
effective drainage also depends on the barrier.
Across the Yorkshire
region, 32 flood warnings and 37 flood watches
remain in force. Warnings in force cover
the Rivers Ouse, Swale, Ure, Wharfe, Aire,
Derwent and Burstwick Drain.
The warnings and watches
will remain in force for the region until
river levels have fallen sufficiently.
People can keep updated
by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or
look at our website to check what their
current situation is and how they can be
ready for flooding in the future. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood
+ More
Environment Agency continues
to watch flood situation
Tracey Hollis - 22-Jan-2008
- 10am - The Environment Agency has downgraded
severe flood warnings for the Yorkshire
region this morning, but 41 flood warnings
and 39 flood watches remain in place.
Officers continue to
monitor river levels across the region closely,
and are working closely with local authorities,
the police and fire service.
A severe flood warning
for Burstwick Drain at Hedon, east of Hull
was downgraded this morning after the high
tide passed. Eight pumps were running overnight
in an operation which has been going on
since last week to protect properties from
flooding. When the tide gate into the River
Humber closes, water can back up in the
drain, so pumping has been in place to keep
water levels down.
There was minor overtopping
of the drain into gardens at high tide this
morning but pumping will continue and 6,000
sandbags have been put in place.
In the Doncaster area,
approximately 20 properties at Stainforth
were evacuated overnight as a precaution.
River levels reached a height some 900mm
below the top of the wall. Levels at Ea
Beck near Toll Bar are falling, but officers
continue to watch the situation.
River levels are also
dropping on the Calder and Aire. The river
level at Leeds city centre reached a height
that was 0.25 metres below that of summer
2007. The River Ouse will be at its highest
level later Wednesday.
Parts of the Yorkshire
region received about 50mm of rainfall in
24 hours. This is less than in summer 2007,
but the rivers are saturated after several
weeks of wet weather.
We would encourage everyone
living in areas affected by the bad weather
to call our Floodline 0845 988 1188 or look
at our website to check what their current
situation is and how they can be ready for
flooding in the future. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood
