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New Leeds flood defence plan
Plans to try to kick-start the stalled Leeds flood defence scheme are this week expected to win the backing of senior councillors.
There was dismay in the city last year when a comprehensive £188m scheme to provide flood defences to a 1 in 200 year standard between Newlay Bridge and Woodlesford failed to attract sufficient government support.
The city was within centimetres of a major flood in 2000 and has also come close to flooding in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Now the council and the Environment Agency are working on proposals for a revised scheme that could be carried out in stages.
The estimated cost of phase one is £75.8m and it would provide protection against a 1 in 75 year flood in the city centre between the railway station and Knostrop Weir. It is hoped to have the defences in place within the next four years.
The longer term aim would be to expand and improve the defences to a 1 in 200 year standard.
Phase one works include replacing Crown Point and Knostrop weir with movable ones, which could be altered to lower water levels in advance of expected higher flow; merging the River Aire and Calder Navigation at Knostrop cut - an 800m section where the canal and river currently run in parallel and erecting defences including walls, terracing and embankments.
A report to be discussed by the council’s Executive Board on Friday says movable weirs would allow defence walls and barriers to be significantly reduced in height.
It adds: “Where possible these defences will be incorporated into existing structures to minimise the impact on residents and on the waterfront.”
The council has allocated £10m towards flood defences, a similar sum could be available from the government and the council is also hoping to win backing from the private sector and the European Regional Development Fund.
The report recommends that the board gives the go-ahead for £500,000 to be spent on a feasibility study for the stage one works.
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