We weren't posting photos over the Christmas period a year ago, although our cameras were busy, so we missed sharing with you the serious flooding in York that started on 26th December 2015.
Day 3 of the flooding and I finally found a way to get close enough to the Foss Flood Barrier to get a shot of it.
The Barrier itself is the arch on the left, and the gate is in a horizontal position just below the top of the arch. With the river at this height, it should have been revolved into a vertical position and lowered into the river,
The buildings on the right are part of the control room and pumping station. With the gate closed, water is pumped from the River Foss (foreground) into the River Ouse (not visible, but beyond the gate). This prevents flooding along the low land beside the River Foss.
Last December, water had entered the control room and there was a serious risk of power being lost. If that had happened, the gate would have held water back in the Foss, rather than allowing it to be pumped away, and the flooding would have been made worse, which is why the barrier was lifted.
Following the floods, the government has committed £17million to upgrade the barrier, control room and pumps, and work is continuing to complete the project.
Very interesting to see and read. There was a lot of severe flooding on some of our rivers too.....today a colleague's wedding was being held in a lovely estate which was badly flooded this time last year.....so good she had a lovely day!
Thank you all for your generous comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I should have added in my notes that the control room was built at a low level so that the riverside view wouldn't be spoilt. The new control centre which forms part of the ongoing refurbishment is being built at a higher level! Also, the barrier was back in working order in little more than 48 hours after the water first got into the control room, with the help of the RAF and one of it's heavy lift Chinook helicopters bringing in new equipment.
York received a great deal of publicity during the floods, but many other areas of Britain were also effected, following storms and the heaviest rainfall ever recorded. A massive restoration effort has been necessary, and is still ongoing in some places.
It was certainly an impressive event, and a great photo opportunity, although obviously very sad for those affected.
Katharine and I went to an exhibition a few weeks ago to look at proposals for a major upgrade to York's flood defences. It was a fascinating insight into the development process, and the huge scale of the work being proposed.
Ian
January 30th, 2017
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Thank you all for your generous comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I should have added in my notes that the control room was built at a low level so that the riverside view wouldn't be spoilt. The new control centre which forms part of the ongoing refurbishment is being built at a higher level! Also, the barrier was back in working order in little more than 48 hours after the water first got into the control room, with the help of the RAF and one of it's heavy lift Chinook helicopters bringing in new equipment.
York received a great deal of publicity during the floods, but many other areas of Britain were also effected, following storms and the heaviest rainfall ever recorded. A massive restoration effort has been necessary, and is still ongoing in some places.
Ian
It was certainly an impressive event, and a great photo opportunity, although obviously very sad for those affected.
Katharine and I went to an exhibition a few weeks ago to look at proposals for a major upgrade to York's flood defences. It was a fascinating insight into the development process, and the huge scale of the work being proposed.
Ian