Originally Posted by
Pontius Navigator
The problem appears to be older properties rather than flood plains.
The changes in flood plains & agriculture upstream means bigger faster changes in water level, plus we have had massive amounts of rainfall in the catchment areas in the Pennines when the ground is already saturated.
Preventing flooding in the future isn't just about flood defences (and do you want a 5m wall along the Ouse in York?), it's got to be about slowing down the rate rain runs off at, and part of that is finding ways to increase the amount of rain the ground can absorb.
However if you solve the problem at one place you often move it downstream.
Where and how houses etc. are built has to be part of it as well. The butcher with a shop tiled with swimming pool materials has been mentioned, and some of the newer buildings in York have the car park on the ground floor which means flooding doesn't damage the office areas.