THE people of York have been exposed to increased flooding due to years of neglect, lack of drainage maintenance and poor decision-making, a new report has admitted.

Officials at City of York Council have produced a special report into flash flooding in June and have examined dozens of drains and sewers, finding problems across the city.

Flood risk and asset manager Steve Wragg said in a written report, that the intensity of the rainfall in York on June 10 and 12 had made some degree of degree of surface flooding likely.

However he added: "Our investigations have shown that a lack of routine maintenance in past years has exacerbated the situation in York with around half the gulleys investigated found to be blocked with debris."

Some gulleys now need major repair and Mr Wragg said there was a risk of a repeat of June's problems, while his team worked to carry out all the required work.

His report focused on June's flooding, caused by intense rainfall and drainage issues, rather than last December's wider flooding that resulted from increased river levels.

He said: "It is clear from the number of blocked gulleys encountered in this flooding incident that previous gulley cleansing operations were not effective and were likely driven on the quantity of work done rather than the requirement for it to be effective and deliver a cleansed asset.

"It is probable that operatives did not leave each asset in a running condition and only 'cosmetic' cleansing was carried out.”

So far, the council has investigated 8,000 gulleys but work is continuing at a further 33,000. Any found not to be operating properly will be investigated more fully, and repairs will be funded where necessary, said Mr Wragg.

The council has allocated £125,000 more to fast-track the work identified since June.