Hi-tech flood barrier in Clementhorpe to be replaced by sandbags

9:28am Tuesday 9th March 2010

A HI-TECH York flood defence scheme is set to make way for the trusty sandbag – because it could be a safety risk.

The trial of a barrier designed to protect homes against rising water at the junction of Clementhorpe and Terry Avenue is expected to come to an end after water seeped under it and caused the road surface to rise up.

City officials say it could lead to a “sudden and catastrophic” road collapse, and have called for it to be scrapped.

The problems were spotted when the system, adopted on a trial basis by City of York Council and put in place by Aquabarrier Systems, was called into action during floods in September 2008 and water began leaking through the defences.

Now the pilot scheme is set to be abandoned when the council’s executive meets next Tuesday after “serious reservations” were raised.

Instead, the council is expected to provide a sandbag “bund” across Clementhorpe if further floods arise while talks are held with the Environment Agency about potential permanent schemes.

The Aquabarrier was trialled at “minimal cost” to the council, but residents in nearby River Street were amazed when it was not used during floods last December.

A report on the scheme said: “The barrier is designed to hold back up to 1.5 metres, in height, of water, and at this level the belief is that there is a significant risk of road failure on the property side of the barrier which could be sudden and catastrophic, also potentially affecting the stability of public utility pipes and cables.

“Clearly, such a failure and the subsequent upward flow of water could be dangerous to any person in the vicinity and will, as a minimum, mean the barrier is thereafter ineffective.”

It also said the amount of water seeping through was more than Aquabarrier had expected and now posed health and safety risks.

Council leader Andrew Waller said: “There is a lot of medieval landfill in this area which means it does not behave like other parts of the river bank, and that is why there has been seepage.

“Whatever is decided next week, we will be approaching the Environment Agency about what can be done in this part of the city, but there would need to be significant investment in the sewage system.”