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York floods latest: Army on streets sandbagging properties, residents rescued, 27 new photographs

An Army Landrover drives through the floods on Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi
An Army Landrover drives through the floods on Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi
An Army Landrover drives through the floods on Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi

The Army are on York’s streets on Sunday (December 27) helping to sandbag city homes against some of the worst floods in years.

The Foss Barrier had to be lifted on Boxing Day after water entered the building leading to a danger of electrical failure. That means the Foss is being emptied into the Ouse putting thousands of properties at greater risk of flooding.

York on flood alert: Roads closed, Foss Barrier raised, homes at risk and waters continue to rise – 35 pictures

Six severe flood warnings from the Environment Agency remain in force. They are

Osbaldwick Beck at York – Beckside Properties
Tang Hall Beck at York – Beckside Properties
Osbaldwick Beck at York – Osbaldwick and Tang Hall
River Foss at Huntington and York
Tang Hall Beck at York – Tang Hall
River Foss at Huntington Road and Foss Island

People are being evacuated from flood hit properties. A number of residents on Huntington Road were rescued by boat on Boxing Night (December 26) and taken to the rest centre set up at Archbishop Holgate School.

Cars navigate floodwater in York. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Cars navigate floodwater in York. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Police give sandbags to the Watergate Inn on Walmgate. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Police give sandbags to the Watergate Inn on Walmgate. Photograph: Nigel Holland

A City of York Council spokeswoman said people are working around the clock to tackle the floods:

Partners and emergency services are working round the clock in York to tackle unprecedented levels of flooding in the city.

Provisions are in place across multi-agencies following overwhelming river levels for the Foss and Ouse.

Representatives are working 24/7 from City of York Council, the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, Northern Powergrid and Yorkshire Water.

The military are due to arrive in York at 6am. Armed Forces staff will be deployed to the council’s Hazel Court depot to support the flood protection work (sand bagging).

They will also be deployed to Cawood (Selby) and will be supporting the police on the evacuation of properties.

Teamwork: police and others work to help protect properties with sandbags. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Teamwork: police and others work to help protect properties with sandbags. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Foss Islands Road underwater, with Waitrose to the right. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Foss Islands Road underwater, with Waitrose to the right. Photograph: Nigel Holland

The River Ouse is currently 4.8 metres (15.74ft) above the average summer level and is expected to peak on Monday lunchtime at approx 5 asl.

People are advised to plan their journeys ahead by visiting the Environment Agency website and avoid flood water.

York road closures

A59 – between the A1 and York
Fishergate – both directions
A19 Fulford Rd
Piccadilly (near Ryedale Building)
Jewbury
Layerthorpe
James St
Tower St
Bad Bargin Lane
St Denys
Haxby Road
Lowther St
Hempland Lane/Junction Burnholme Drive
Skeldergate
Foss Island Road
Navigation Road
Shipton Rd (lower)
Hopgrove Lane/Carringdon Ave
Elvington Main St
Water End
Rufforth Main Street
Monks Cross Link Road
Huntington Road

Many public transport routes are affected and buses are being diverted. First York issued this list of diversions at 9.30am:

More photographs of the flooding

york-flood-dec-2015-flooding-nico-chendi

A shot of Tower Street business on Sunday morning. Photograph: Nico Chendi
A shot of Tower Street business on Sunday morning. Photograph: Nico Chendi
Council workers and others are working round the clock to help vulnerable people and properties. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Council workers and others are working round the clock to help vulnerable people and properties. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Police offer advice to business owners on Tower Street. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Police offer advice to business owners on Tower Street. Photograph: Nigel Holland
The water outside the Masons Arms on Fishergate, York. Photograph: Nigel Holland
The water outside the Masons Arms on Fishergate, York. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Fire crews work tirelessly to help. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Fire crews work tirelessly to help. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Scenes on Tower Street, York, on Boxing Night. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Scenes on Tower Street, York, on Boxing Night. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Floodwaters on Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi
Floodwaters on Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi
The Army power through. Photograph: Nico Chendi
The Army power through. Photograph: Nico Chendi
The North Yorkshire Fire Service helping in the city centre. Photograph: Nigel Holland
The North Yorkshire Fire Service helping in the city centre. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Don't drive in York unless you have to is the official advice. Photograph: Nigel Holland
Don’t drive in York unless you have to is the official advice. Photograph: Nigel Holland
The floods are being tackled by multiple agencies, including the council, police and fire service. Photograph: Nigel Holland
The floods are being tackled by multiple agencies, including the council, police and fire service. Photograph: Nigel Holland
The scene on Tower Street on Boxing Night. Photograph: Nico Chendi
The scene on Tower Street on Boxing Night. Photograph: Nico Chendi
The water has inundated local businesses. Photograph: Nico Chendi
The water has inundated local businesses. Photograph: Nico Chendi
A media crew outside Clifford's Tower near the floods. Photograph: Nico Chendi
A media crew outside Clifford’s Tower near the floods. Photograph: Nico Chendi
Another view of Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi
Another view of Tower Street. Photograph: Nico Chendi

The floods on Twitter

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We know an old lady, Miss M. Gray at 35 Runswick Ave – York. We have tried to phone her, but no answer.
Is it difficult to let us know how she is? Please send a message to [email protected] (nr Arnhem Holland).
Wishing you all the best of luck and we salute everybody involved to try and help people affected.
H.A. Duinhoven MBE – Holland

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What use are high speed rail links to the north if we can’t protect our homes and businesses.
No more excuses,action please.

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I have friends staying with me in Cheshire who live in the Tang Hall Area. Please can you tell me if that area is flooded? Thank You

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So sorry for the residents and businesses of York, I’m disappointed at losing all my money for my 2 day stay at the Park Inn York due to start today, I’ve cancelled, but the locals must really be distraught hope the situation improves rapidly for you.

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I would like to know who to contact as their only one way out of our estate and that s huntingtonroad leading on to maplehurst mews whitecross gardens as they is bollards blocking the entrance from whitecross road we have rang 101 they were not interested spoke to fire and rescue they are not from York so what can we do as a community

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