The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has announced today that the Government will make available £45m of additional funding for the upgrading of York’s flood defences. This money will support approximately 15 schemes throughout York to improve defences protecting upwards of 2,000 properties.
This money is in addition to the £10 million already pledged by the Government for repairs and upgrades to the Foss Barrier.
Cllr. Tony Richardson, Conservative Group spokesperson on the Environment said “This is very good news for York and proof against critics who claim that this Government only prioritises environmental investment in the southeast. We need to plan for what appears to be the increasingly difficult meteorological conditions producing ‘severe weather events’ and with them the possibility of more frequent flooding. Those who witnessed the devastation in the city centre over Christmas will not soon forget it, and this money is extremely welcome as we work to improve the protection of peoples’ homes and businesses for the future.”