AMBITIOUS proposals to reduce flood risk in the River Aire catchment have been submitted to Leeds City Council and Bradford Council.
The multi-million pound plans, developed by Leeds City Council, Bradford Council and the Environment Agency, include a new flood storage area between Horsforth and Rawdon and flood defences at Apperley Bridge.
The proposals are part of a series of measures to reduce flood risk to 1,048 homes and 474 businesses along the River Aire.
The flood storage area makes use of an existing flood plain and will be operated by a control gate system. This means that water can be held when the river levels are high and then released back into the river when it is safe to do so. As part of this work, new habitat and wildlife areas will also be created which will bring additional biodiversity and environmental benefits.