The Environment Agency says that it has been working with flood engineer specialists to develop the plans since the government committed to invest £9 million in the scheme last autumn.

This was in addition to the £1 million Local Growth Fund investment in the scheme through the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Hydrological and hydraulic modelling of the flood risk has already been undertaken, as well as environmental and ecological appraisals of the river, the surrounding area and its habitats.

Following the completion of the surveys, a shortlist outlining options for how the flood defence improvements could look will be published in July.

The options will consider different types of flood defences in the town, as well as the possibility of a flood storage area upstream and the use of natural flood management.

The Environment Agency says any flood alleviation scheme it creates is modelled to make sure it does not increase flood risk upstream or downstream and, if it does, that risk will be mitigated.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the Agency says it is unable to hold face-to-face public meetings, so 3D visualisations and aerial computer-designed ‘fly-through’ videos of the options will be made available online.

A Tadcaster flood alleviation scheme website will also be launched soon, containing a detailed written overview of each option and a frequently asked questions section.

Nearer the end of the year the Environment Agency says it is aiming to have a community information hub where residents can drop-in and ask questions to a staff member.

Robin Derry, Environment Agency flood risk advisor for Tadcaster, said:

Since we held our last drop-in event in the town last November we have received a number of suggestions from residents through boxes placed in businesses throughout the town.

We will continue to update residents with our newsletters, as well as through the town council and Tadcaster Flood Action Group.

We have also launched a Tadcaster Flood Scheme Facebook page, where residents can get regular updates.

The Environment Agency says it is aiming to have a consultation on the draft final design before the end of the year.

Tadcaster suffered devastating flooding in December 2015, which resulted in part of the bridge over the River Wharfe collapsing, splitting the town in half for over a year.

Nicola Eades, of Tadcaster Flood Action Group, said:

Tadcaster Flood Action Group is fully supportive of the plans for a new flood alleviation scheme for our town.

Over the years we have worked closely with the Environment Agency to help bring about a greater level of resilience for the community and will continue to do so to ensure a successful scheme is built which will help protect and enhance our town.

To join the Tadcaster flood alleviation mailing list, email tadcasterfas@environment-agency.gov.uk and to sign up to receive flood warnings, click here or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

To download a guide to the meaning of flood alerts and flood warnings for Tadcaster click here.