Floods Minister Rory Stewart yesterday presented a new flood protection plan for communities in Cumbria, the county in north west England so badly hit by the winter floods of 2015 to 2016.
The £72 million Cumbria Flood Action Plan sets out the short-term actions that will see 4,300 homes in the region better protected, as well as the long-term actions that will see local organisations and communities working in partnership to develop better ways of managing rivers and the land.
The Government has already invested over £150m in Cumbria through repairs to infrastructure, direct payments to flooded households and business, removing debris and gravel and funding to match the tremendous generosity shown in charity appeals.
Better Water Management and Planning Laws
The plan involves working with United Utilities to explore changing the way local reservoirs are managed to provide more storage during the winter.
The project will also ensure that that all future planning permission granted in Cumbria takes account of learnings from Storm Desmond.
Working With Nature
The plan will involve using nature to increase flood protection, such as the restoration of 350 hectares of peatland to hold water upstream for longer at several sites around the Eden, Derwent and Kent/Leven catchments.
Officials will also work four small communities to find how the way the land managed above the villages can be changed to reduce risk to residents, whilst also maintaining benefits for farmers and landowners.
The plan will also consider how flood risk can be reduced along the 3 catchments most severely impacted by Storm Desmond – the Eden, Derwent and Kent and Leven. Measures will include tree planting and restoring river bends as well as more traditional engineering solutions such as flood walls in towns.
Floods Minister Rory Stewart said:
“This plan is what Cumbria needs to help protect its businesses, people and infrastructure from flooding – now and over the longer term. This is largely thanks to the incredible spirit of the Cumbrian people, with local groups, local authorities, the Environment Agency and landowners all working with us to find the best answers for every area.
“The government has committed up to £72 million to protect Cumbria from flooding and this plan uses local expertise to identify where that money will be best spent to benefit communities, by re-examining river systems from source to sea.”
Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager Andy Brown said:
“This action plan represents a step change in the way we manage flood risk in Cumbria. It sees local communities at the heart of the process, working with organisations to reduce flood risk along the length of Cumbrian river catchments, from the Fells to the coast.
“The development of the long-term plan relies on continuing to work with the communities and farmers who live alongside these rivers and have experienced flooding at first hand. This is your opportunity to get involved and help make Cumbria more resilient to flooding.”
See the complete Cumbria Flood Action Plan here.
