LONG-AWAITED trials of the next generation of flood defences, which have already attracted interest from disaster-hit communities across the globe, are due to begin in York.  The pilot of the revolutionary removable barriers starts in June, in one of the citys worst flood affected neighbourhoods. 

A contract was finalised with York Council last week allowing a three-year pilot of the new technology in the River Street and Clementhorpe area, where 40 properties were swamped by floods in 2000 and another 50 buildings cut off by rising waters.

The use of traditional flood defences to protect the centre of York would cost millions of pounds, and the Environment Agency has confirmed it will be keeping a close check on the Aquabarrier trials to see if the technology provides a viable alternative.

The Inventor, Mr Archer-Simms said: "There has been a great deal of fortitude involved to stick with the project, but it is gratifying to know that we are nearly there and the trials are due to begin soon.

"The barriers are attracting a lot of interest already from across the world, and we do believe they could provide a very useful tool in dealing with flooding in the future. We all know about the threats posed by global warming and Yorkshire has obviously been particularly badly hit in recent months." 

The flood prevention system will see a raised table created at the end of Clementhorpe – similar to a speed bump but with gentler ramps – onto which the temporary interlocking barriers can be fixed if there is the threat of flooding.

The hollow plastic barriers have holes carved into them to allow them to fill with water and increase stability during flooding. Once the flood levels recede, the water simply drains out of the barriers.

The barrier incorporates rubber seals to prevent leakages, and a stand-by temporary pump will also be introduced to deal with any ground water which has built up behind the temporary defences.

York Council has been involved in negotiations with AquaBarrier-Systems Limited since 2001, but preparatory work is due to start in February ready for the trials to begin four months later.

Coun Andrew Waller, York Council's executive member for neighbourhood services who also sits on the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee, said: "We have been working with Aquabarrier Limited for a long time now, and given the recent flooding we have seen in York, it is extremely timely that the trials are due to begin."