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Flooding wreaks havoc across York
11:00am Friday 12th January 2007
Comments (66)YORK awoke today to its worst floods in two years, as rising waters brought widespread disruption to thousands of residents and workers.
Road closures brought delays to commuters, including 1,500 Park & Ride passengers who found their buses diverted.
An emergency team was meeting this morning to discuss the crisis. The River Ouse was expected to peak at 4.4 metres above normal at 10am today - the highest since January 2005, but still about a metre short of the record-breaking levels in 2000.
City of York Council staff worked throughout last night, sandbagging riverside streets such as Peckitt Street and Tower Gardens, and preparing road closures.
A council spokesperson said: "Defences are designed to cope with the full predicted increase in the river level."
Skeldergate and the A19 between Fordlands Road and Landing Lane were shut, as were roads in Naburn and Poppleton.
St George's Field car park and Rowntree Park were also closed.
The York Flood Group, consisting of council officers, emergency services, the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water, met at 8pm yesterday, when the waters were 3.9 metres above normal.
At one point, the Ouse had been predicted to reach 4.8m above normal - higher than a double-decker bus.
Andrew Waller, the council's executive member for neighbourhood services, said: "I became aware late yesterday that estimates were a lot higher than first anticipated."
He said staff had worked hard to protect vulnerable residents.
Regarding the Park & Ride services, First York commercial director Peter Edwards said: "We will try to operate as much as we possibly can with diversions.
"Obviously, people still have to come into work - we'll try to move as many people as we can."
He said 500 passengers would be affected at each of Askham Bar, York Designer Outlet and Grimston Bar - the red, white and yellow routes - and said staff would be at bus stops telling passengers where to go.
At the King's Arms pub in York, manager Andy Henstock said: "It could be like one of those years, like 2000, when it was really big. Nobody knows how much water is going to come off those hills if it keeps on raining.
"A friend of mine further up river said to be prepared for a lot more water.
"It usually takes 12 hours to reach me from where he is."
Rupert Hilyard, of Friar's Terrace, York, said: "The sandbags and pumps only protect us so far, because the water comes up from underneath, through the floors."
Chris Herman, of Friar's Terrace, York, said: "We have been sandbagged already.
"The council are looking after us and we are keeping an eye on the Environment Agency flood watch."
Andrea Welsh, barmaid at the Cock and Bottle in Skeldergate, said the river rose by two feet in as many hours.
She said: "It's well up Queen's Staith and at the highest I've seen it in a long time."
Margaret Jamieson, at the Blacksmith's Arms, in Main Street, Naburn, said: "If it rains any more and it starts to come down the river from higher up then we might be in difficulty."
- The Environment Agency Floodline number is 0845 988 1188.
Bus service changes
There will be diversions in place on the Number 3 and Number 7 Park & Ride services, and possibly on the Number 8 service.
The Number 3 Askham Bar service will terminate in Station Road outside York Station. The service will not follow its usual city centre loop via Rougier Street, Hudson Street, Micklegate, Skeldergate, Skeldergate Bridge, Tower Street, Clifford Street, Ouse Bridge, Micklegate, Hudson Street and Rougier Street.
The Number 7 York Designer Outlet service will not follow its usual route along Fulford Road. It will take a diversion along the A64 eastbound, before coming into the city along Hull Road, following the ring road to Fishergate, and continuing its usual city centre loop.
Depending on water levels on Foss Islands Road, the Number 8 Grimston Bar service may not follow its usual city centre loop via Foss Islands Road, Peasholme Green, The Stonebow, Pavement, Piccadilly and Walmgate. If so, it will go into the city centre along Walmgate, before terminating in Piccadilly.
Your Say YourYork Press
ELVIS THE PELVIS, says...
12:24pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Sarah, says...
12:41pm Fri 12 Jan 07
BECCI, says...
12:41pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Andy, says...
12:58pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Scooby-doo, says...
1:16pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Every year this happens and every year it always surprises us. When will be learn?
...and your point is? Unusually for the Press this does constitute real news and I think we have learnt from the past. Plans are in place and steps taken based on the information that's available now. It's not every year that Rowntree Park floods or roads in York are closed so this time it is different from the norm.
Pru, says...
1:17pm Fri 12 Jan 07
J Harris wrote:Yes there was.
Why are Radio York hopeless at giving traffic information? Not even a mention of Fulford Road being closed this morning.
christine, says...
1:52pm Fri 12 Jan 07
JC, says...
2:06pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Phister, says...
2:14pm Fri 12 Jan 07
I think the flooded houses are a price to pay for my entertainment
Lotte, says...
2:15pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Observer, says...
2:18pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Hils, says...
2:27pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Cyril, says...
2:38pm Fri 12 Jan 07
SJ, says...
2:42pm Fri 12 Jan 07
"I live next to the river but I never expected it to flood" on the claim form.
I blame the trolleys there must a few in the river to raise the level further than normal.
E, says...
2:54pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Jack, says...
3:18pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Fiona, says...
4:05pm Fri 12 Jan 07
JC wrote:They were in the process of closing the A19 at Fulford at lunchtime today.
When I came into work at 7:45 this morning the A19 was open - it looks like everyone is reporting from a press release the council issued yesterday evening where it talks about shutting the A19 at Fulford. However a press release this morning makes it clear that they were still monitoring the A19 there and would only close it if things worsened this afternoon. But I guess by then the news articles had been written and no one thought to check and change them! The best place to check is York Council's website - particularly the press releases section!
Steve, says...
4:29pm Fri 12 Jan 07
i pee freely, says...
4:49pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Angus, says...
4:53pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Bertie the Muffin, says...
5:22pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Marty funkhouser, says...
6:24pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Facts, says...
6:25pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Steve wrote:The York Council is not responsible for flood defences.
It really is time for some proper, state-of-the-art flood defences. Yet again York Council fail to deliver. It's a moral outrage. My home was so flooded that I had to use my blow-up doll as a buoyancy aid!
Try the regional flood protection committee or your local MP.
billy, says...
6:28pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Varg, says...
6:29pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Facts wrote:no u
Steve wrote:The York Council is not responsible for flood defences.
It really is time for some proper, state-of-the-art flood defences. Yet
again York Council fail to deliver. It's a moral outrage. My home was
so flooded that I had to use my blow-up doll as a buoyancy aid!
Try the regional flood protection committee or your local MP.
Jack, says...
6:30pm Fri 12 Jan 07
billy wrote:And now we have one more. :(
obviously a lot of retards read this site
daffy, says...
6:30pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Jack, says...
6:31pm Fri 12 Jan 07
daffy wrote:No it's not.
funny how it never gets any higher up the ducks
Dissapointed, says...
6:32pm Fri 12 Jan 07
daffy, says...
6:34pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Head for the hills, says...
6:41pm Fri 12 Jan 07
I'm just floating up the side of the Pennines
Paulette the weathergirl, says...
6:51pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Idle Housewife, says...
7:12pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Where art thou Moses?
horse, says...
7:56pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Appalled of York, says...
8:10pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Jack, says...
8:35pm Fri 12 Jan 07
You people will never understand life on the riverfront. The cold misty mornings, the sound of the coots calling to each other.
HARDCORE
mac, says...
8:45pm Fri 12 Jan 07
mac, says...
8:49pm Fri 12 Jan 07
BECCI wrote:24s 22s 23s as far as I know are nomal route
ARE THE BUSES PICKING UP AT THE SAME PLACE THEN??? AND WHY DIDN'T ANY RADIO STATIONS TELL US FULFORD ROAD WAS CLOSED
as fars as fordlands I think.
7s out boud broadway then heslington lane. hull rd A64 then into designer centre. then back to york one that same route,
Jack, says...
8:49pm Fri 12 Jan 07
mac wrote:An area the size of Wales is lost in the rainforests every day. Street-lighting outages imminent.
a tree has just falled down in poppleton, so keep a eye out for bus diversions, by the sounds of it it at the green
barry scott, says...
8:50pm Fri 12 Jan 07
zomg, says...
8:53pm Fri 12 Jan 07
An area the size of Wales is lost in the rainforests every day.
seems slightly unfair that it's never actually Wales imho
Jack, says...
8:53pm Fri 12 Jan 07
barry scott wrote:Shame I can't be arsed to flood this server, preventing you from posting drivel.
Shame they couldn't flood Tang Hall and Foxwood, they could do with a good wash
Jack, says...
9:28pm Fri 12 Jan 07
Miriam Johns, says...
9:34pm Fri 12 Jan 07
HAVOC HAVOC HAVOC.
Doug, says...
10:10pm Fri 12 Jan 07
christine wrote:So let me get this straight!
i live in lincoln st leeman road and the river is just at the end of my street nor liturily but i have not been given any information about the flooding apart from what i see on the internet and tv and hear on the radio it can be worring because nobody knows whats going to happen
You had information from the internet, TV and Radio but you still didn't know what was going on???? What do you expect,someone to knock on your door and read the internet page to you, or interpret what your hearing and seeing on the TV and radio into words of one syllable?
blah blah blah, says...
10:17pm Fri 12 Jan 07
SJ wrote:pathetic!! do u rly think that when u bought the house down by the river tht it wudnt flood!!! welcome to the real world!! u have to expect these things if u live near a river where houses are on the flood plains!! god!!
Can we sue someone for the flooding? \\\\\\\"I live next to the river but I never expected it to flood\\\\\\\" on the claim form. I blame the trolleys there must a few in the river to raise the level further than normal.
ben, says...
10:50pm Fri 12 Jan 07
severe drought?
actually, with global warming who knows!
Mat, says...
12:08am Sat 13 Jan 07
blah blah blah wrote:just a thought, but i think he may have been joking....
SJ wrote: Can we sue someone for the flooding? \\\\\\\"I live next to the river but I never expected it to flood\\\\\\\" on the claim form. I blame the trolleys there must a few in the river to raise the level further than normal.pathetic!! do u rly think that when u bought the house down by the river tht it wudnt flood!!! welcome to the real world!! u have to expect these things if u live near a river where houses are on the flood plains!! god!!
bernard briggs, says...
12:16am Sat 13 Jan 07
GGNORE, says...
12:34am Sat 13 Jan 07
Appalled of York wrote:I hope your carpet and furniture get ruined.
I am appalled and angry at the public response to this article. Flooding is an extremely serious issue and affects lots of people. See how you like it, trying to find an insurer. You people will never understand life on the riverfront. The cold misty mornings, the sound of the coots calling to each other. Please be respectful for our local issues - flooding is by far our greatest threat and within 5 years or so EVERYONE will be a victim.
stubbsy, says...
4:11am Sat 13 Jan 07
Angus wrote:are you mebtal?
Flood damage is sent from God. All you greedy folk that see the chance to get a cheaper house down by the river, with a nice balcony and a shed, this is your comeuppence. If you don\\\'t like getting your dirty heathen feet wet, move somewhere else.
cheaper house by the river. bell end.
stubbsy, says...
4:15am Sat 13 Jan 07
Jack, says...
5:22am Sat 13 Jan 07
stubbsy wrote:Not if you constantly post childish abuse.
its no wonder the forums got closed down is it.
Clare B, says...
7:02am Sat 13 Jan 07
Appalled of York wrote:Well that will teach you to spend your thousands on a river front property!!! Stop your whining, or sell up let some other rich mug whinge on 'oh I say old chap, that blasted water is almost up to the marble steps'
I am appalled and angry at the public response to this article. Flooding is an extremely serious issue and affects lots of people. See how you like it, trying to find an insurer. You people will never understand life on the riverfront. The cold misty mornings, the sound of the coots calling to each other. Please be respectful for our local issues - flooding is by far our greatest threat and within 5 years or so EVERYONE will be a victim.
b, says...
10:01am Sat 13 Jan 07
We had little choice. As first time buyers all we could afford was a tiny two bed terrace in Leeman Road area!! marble steps??! not likely!
rach, says...
10:16am Sat 13 Jan 07
Phister wrote:do you not think this is a little pathetic? How can a flood excite you? you must lead a pretty sad/lonely life!! I really do feel for those people who are in the flood areas; when it happens it happens so quick that its happened before you know it. so come on grow up a little!!
I find the floods quite exciting! I think the flooded houses are a price to pay for my entertainment
Perplexed, says...
1:29pm Sat 13 Jan 07
agnosticfront, says...
2:53pm Sat 13 Jan 07
Gav, says...
5:16pm Sat 13 Jan 07
childish answer, says...
7:08pm Sat 13 Jan 07
kit, says...
7:41pm Sat 13 Jan 07
childish answer wrote:lol, so many images running through my head right now!
Maybe some fat bloke went for a swim in the Ouse, and the displacement caused all this flooding?
Jack, says...
8:54pm Sat 13 Jan 07
Gav wrote:Lurk more.
What's all this stuff about a fat man in the river?
Too Radical, says...
7:32pm Sun 14 Jan 07
annmarie, says...
3:06pm Mon 15 Jan 07
Jack wrote:Yes it is....ha ha ha ha
daffy wrote: funny how it never gets any higher up the ducksNo it\'s not.
Jack, says...
9:08pm Mon 15 Jan 07
Yes it is....ha ha ha ha
It really isn't.
Sandbags used as a defence in Peckitt Street
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J Harris, says...
12:10pm Fri 12 Jan 07