LEEDS City Council has come under fire for its response to the weekend's dramatic flooding in Otley.

Some residents, backed by Councillor Sandy Lay (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon), are unhappy at how long it took the authority to get sandbags to at-risk riverside properties on Sunday.

Leonie Sharp's Bridge Avenue home stands close to the River Wharfe, at Wharfemeadows Park, so she is used to receiving automated flood warnings, as she did early that morning,

Rapidly rising water levels, however, meant she knew by about 10.30am that extra measures would be needed, so she took to social media to highlight her, and her neighbours', need for sandbags.

By the time they arrived in Otley though, at about 2pm, there weren't enough to go around, and it wasn't until 5pm – when the river level had peaked – that more arrived.

She said: "It was too late. Neighbours in Bridge Avenue had their garages and sheds flooded and the water was lapping at the doors in Farnley Lane, where those who have cellars must have had them flooded.

"At about the same time, my electricity went off and, after exploring the cause, I noticed my cellar was filling up."

Cllr Lay, while praising how the police reacted, has taken up the issue with the council.

He said: "The response was not great.

"Highways were ill-prepared with a lack of sandbags, wellies and staff.

"Parks and countryside should have been on site closing the park, but were nowhere to be seen.

"I do understand the Leeds staff were stretched across the city, but we have in the past had a local contingency plan for Otley, which was not followed this time.

"I've therefore asked the chief executive of the city council to organise a review of the weekend to see what could have been done better, quicker and in a more timely manner."

A council spokesman responded: "Although this is not a statutory duty, where possible we do try to provide sandbags to vulnerable residents to help and protect them during a flood.

"However, these resources are limited and we must ensure they are deployed where and when they are needed most.

"We need to try and ensure the highways remain open, wherever possible, and that council buildings are protected, so we keep a stock of sandbags primarily for this purpose.

"We would always advise residents and business owners who may be at risk of flooding to be prepared, so they can respond appropriately when water levels rise."

Mrs Sharp, meanwhile, was also critical of the police and Environment Agency responses, and of Prince Henry's Grammar School for closing on Monday, when roads had re-opened and the water levels returned to normal.

The school, posting notice of the closure on its website on Sunday, had said: "This decision has been taken following advice from Leeds City Council, which anticipates these routes will continue to be closed on Monday morning."

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Gazette and Observer, 38 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JU. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.

l See pages 24/41 for a full floods round-up, including photos