OTLEY residents have been updated about the likely works schedule for the town’s long-awaited flood defence scheme.

A Flood Alleviation Scheme was announced by the Government in 2016 after the town had suffered a string of severe floods at the end of 2015 - the worst of which was ushered in by Storm Eva on Boxing Day.

A £3.3 million proposal, which will involve creating a flood embankment along the west of Billams Hill, was agreed in March this year. The COVID-19 crisis, however, has delayed progress and work on the main scheme is not expected to begin until Spring, 2021.

Leeds City Council has commented on the Otley scheme while announcing details of how another of its flood defence projects, the £112.1 million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 (Leeds FAS2), is advancing. That project is designed to better protect the A65 Kirkstall Road corridor and parts of Apperley Bridge, and has involved a first year of installing flood defences along the River Aire.

Referring to the Otley initiative, the council’s statement said: “In spring next year, the Otley Flood Alleviation Scheme will begin construction. The £3.3million scheme will reduce flood risk from the River Wharfe and includes a new flood embankment running parallel with Billams Hill, alongside vegetation management on the islands downstream.

“Otley was one of the worst affected areas of Storm Eva in Leeds and has had several near misses since, most recently in November this year. Once completed in full, which is expected to be next autumn, the Otley scheme will reduce risk to previously affected residents near Wharfemeadows Park.

“The first virtual resident meeting was held last month to provide an update to residents about the planned programme of works, with further updates expected in the New Year.”

The Leeds FAS2 meanwhile - being delivered by Leeds City Council in partnership with the Environment Agency, BMMjv and Aecom - is using a catchment-wide approach, including traditional engineering and natural flood management techniques, to reduce flood risk.

It will be delivered in two stages with the first involving the installation of flood defence walls along an 8km stretch upstream of Leeds Train Station to reduce the risk of flooding to a one per cent chance in any given year.

Stage two, subject to planning approval, is expected to reduce the risk further to a 0.5 per cent probability and involves using a flood storage area between Horsforth and Rawdon - alongside flood defence walls, embankments and a new pumping station at Apperley Bridge.

Leeds FAS2 is due to be completed in the winter of 2022/23 and should provide a consistent 1 in 200 year flood protection from the River Aire between Apperley Bridge and Knostrop.