Stopping the floods - time to think out of the box

York as flooded for many years, why isn't there a flood barrier same as London? 

London’s measures are to control water coming up the river. Those at York are to control it going down.

York does have flood barriers, one of the issues was that the one controlling the Foss broke down and had to be left open. Replacement part was airlifted in yesterday by a Chinook. However, the flood defences in York are inadequate and have been for decades. It needs more environmental work doing much further upstream so that less water actually makes it into the Ouse. Too late by the time it reaches York. Thames barrier deals with tidal surges not rainfall. 

Doesn't matter whether it is to stop water going up Ro down the river a flood barrier is there to control water.

Possibly, I am no expert. My stance is similar to yours though, not enough money spent in certain areas, not a priority, second class citizens, who cares about certain places, blah, blah blah!

What we need is a northern Wat Tyler!

Possibly, I am no expert. My stance is similar to yours though, not enough money spent in certain areas, not a priority, second class citizens, who cares about certain places, blah, blah blah!

What we need is a northern Wat Tyler!

Write your comments here...You have only got to look how much is being spent on the cross rail project, and they have a rail line that runs across the top of London Which is not used to full capacity.

To keep this non political, I see ideas are being put forward to help householders survive the floods like raising electrical points, using waterproof plaster and laying solid floors rather than suspended wood. Drying out houses and having to remove plaster etc takes months.

Sadly, I think that all the work done to refurbish will merely put back what was already there without any thought for the possibility of a repeat. Hopefully I’m wrong but, as this is largely at the expense of all our insurance premiums, I would dearly like to see that money being spent in a way that mitigates the impact of any reoccurrence. 

There is quite a big "flood refurbishment" strategy on the gov.uk site and whether homes should be restored new for old or for resilience. Sounds as though the "resillience" bit will become more important, so things are now going that way.

Outside the box? Building on floodplains has become almost neccessary in some places as there are no aternative places to build - so build houses that will rise with the flood water.

Last year in Yalding (Kent) there were static caravans that did exactly that as they had been flooded before. The owners designed large polystyrene tpye pontoons under the caravans. Worked a treat. Still messy when the waters receded, but thier homes were saved.

I hope all the reservoirs are to capacity now. It would be unfortunate to face drought in the Summer after this.