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Hi-tech flood defences to protect ancient city
Temporary barriers set to be installed in high risk districts Paul Jeeves REVOLUTIONARY removable flood defences are due to be introduced in York in the first scheme of its kind in Britain.
The new technology has been in development since the 2000 floods which caused havoc across Britain and the region, but it is now poised to be used to protect one of York's highest risk districts which was swamped in the disaster.
The flood prevention system has now also attracted international interest from authorities in New Orleans after the American city was hit by the flooding catastrophe caused by Hurricane Katrina in August last year.
The 2000 floods were the worst to hit York in living memory and left the city council with a clean-up bill of more than 1.3m, but plans have been drawn up to minimise the impact of rising waters in the future.
The new technology has been developed by Aquabarrier-Systems Limited and while the barriers have been tested in a dry dock, it would be the first time that the technology has been engineered to protect a specific location.
The Environment Agency has been involved in the talks to bring the barriers to York, and if the technology proves a success it could be introduced in other at risk areas.
Inventor Paul Archer-Simms, who was born in York, has spent 500,000 of his own money creating the barriers, which have cost a total of 1.2m to develop.
Mr Archer-Simms said: "The flood barriers have generated huge interest not just in Britain but also internationally. We believe they will not only save millions of pounds by preventing flood damage, they will also help save people's lives."
York Council is considering installing the temporary barriers in the River Street and Clementhorpe area of York, where 40 properties were swamped by the 2000 floods and another 50 buildings cut off by rising waters.
The hollow plastic barriers have holes carved into them to allow them to fill with water and increase stability during flooding. Once the flood levels recede, the water simply drains out of the barriers.
Mr Archer-Simms said: "The initial design was literally scrawled on the back of a cigarette packet in a pub. At first I must admit I thought it was too simple to work as well as it has done, but we have carried out extensive tests and are looking forward to putting them in place in York."
The flood prevention system would see a raised table at the end of Clementhorpe created – similar to a speed bump but with gentler ramps – onto which the
temporary interlocking barriers can be fixed ahead of flooding.
The barrier incorporates built-in rubber seals to prevent leakages and a stand-by temporary pump would also be introduced to deal with any ground water which has built up behind the temporary defences.
York Council has been involved in negotiations with AquaBarrier-Systems Limited since 2001, but the go-ahead for trials of the temporary barriers is expected to be given during a meeting on June 8.
Work to install the defences could begin by the end of the year.
Coun Andrew Waller, York Council's executive member for the environment and sustainability, said: "York has a long history of flooding and there are only finite resources available to prevent it.
"But this is an extremely innovative scheme and one that we are keen to put into practice."
The cost of the 15 metres of flood defences in Clementhorpe would have cost 250,000 to install, but Aquabarrier-Systems Limited is providing the barriers free of charge to showcase the effectiveness of the technology.
Phil Younge, the Environment Agency's regional strategy unit manager, said: "We're always keen to look at new ways of reducing the flood risk to people and their property, and are very pleased York Council has taken the initiative with this trial.
"We're happy to be supporting the project, and hope to have another string in our bow for tackling flood risk very soon."
paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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