NEW flood walls being built alongside the A19 at Fulford are set to help prevent traffic chaos on the York road network when the River Ouse floods severely in future.

The road is a key radial route into the city from Selby, the A64 and the Designer Outlet, and it is used by about 18,000 vehicles a day, including Park & Ride buses.

But it has been blocked for days on end during major Ouse floods, such as in 2000, 2012 and 2015.

York Press:

Motorists and buses have had to take a diversion along the A64 and then use alternative routes into York, such as Hull Road and Tadcaster Road, which have rapidly become heavily congested.

But a section of the A19 was raised during the construction earlier this year of a junction for a new access road into Persimmon’s Germany Beck housing development and now flood walls are being built along the remaining vulnerable stretch of road by City of York Council, but with the work funded by Persimmon.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Lib Dem councillor for Fulford and Heslington, welcomed the work on the A19 but said a "joined-up flood defence plan for Fulford" was needed to protect the Fordlands Road community, which has repeatedly been marooned by floodwaters across the road when the Ouse has flooded badly.

“It is good news that Main Street and the A19 will be further protected from flooding, but I have continuously called for public authorities, including the Environment Agency and the council, to ensure a joined up flood plan,” he said.

“Following a successful campaign locally, which secured an additional £500,000 earlier in the year from the council for flood defences for the Fordlands Road community, it is now increasingly important to work with residents to get all of these plans in place.

“Our community has suffered considerable disruption as a result of the ongoing works, including with traffic, and therefore, it is right for authorities to consult urgently, provide assurances that the job will be completed and produce a joined-up flood plan.”

A council spokeswoman said the works to complete the flood defences to the western side of the A19 were nearing completion.

She said funding had also been secured to protect Fordlands Road in a similar way to the A19.

“However, we are working with the Environment Agency to develop a holistic flood scheme to protect homes in the area around Fordlands Road.

“These works will also provide flood protection for the road and further resilience to the A19 works.”