Today marked a significant milestone in the efforts to protect Leeds from devastating floods, as phase two of the long-anticipated flood alleviation scheme got underway.
The first part of phase two, which will cost £87 million, is aimed at giving Kirkstall and the city centre the capacity to cope with a one-in-100 chance of flooding in any given year.
However, Leeds City Council leader Cllr Judith Blake has criticised the government for not fully funding the huge infrastructure project on the River Aire.
Leeds suffered an estimated £36.8 million worth of damage during the Boxing Day floods of 2015 when almost 3,500 properties were affected.
The council asked for £112.1 million to fully protect the city, but the government was only willing to part with £65 million.
"We had the commitments from different ministers coming up after Storm Eva saying that Leeds needed the investment in full," said Cllr Blake as work began near Wellington Bridge Street today.
"We've got a shortfall on £25.7 million, but we've committed to getting on with this phase first and working to get the rest of the funding in place.
"Years go by and we can't sit back and not get on and put the best schemes in place.
"We will continue to lobby for the full commitment to the scheme. We'll continue to put that pressure on to make sure we get the investment in full."
The first step of phase two will target an 8km stretch upstream of Leeds train station, including Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Kirkstall Abbey and Kirkstall Meadows.
The second step involves creating flood storage at Calverley, making use of an existing flood plain, and works at Apperley Bridge, which will bring the level of protection up to a one-in-200 chance of flooding in any given year.
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