Proposals to reduce flood risk in Cockermouth
Where are we now?
We are currently finalising our designs for a flood risk management scheme, which could reduce the risk of flooding to approximately 360 homes and 55 businesses in Cockermouth. This will involve raising sections of the flood walls and embankments along the River Cocker and River Derwent through the centre of the town.
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Latest news
Defra and the Environment Agency have announced that £3.3 million of central government money will be used towards the construction of the Cockermouth Flood Risk Management Scheme, to reduce the risk of flooding to approximately 360 homes and 55 businesses in the town.
The Flood Defence Grant in Aid funding forms an important part of the partnership funding that, once confirmed, will enable the scheme to be built.
The total cost of the scheme is £4.4 million and so far, Cockermouth Flood Action Group, Cumbria Community Foundation, Cockermouth Chamber of Trade, local businesses and the local community have all committed to help fund the scheme. Cumbria County Council and Allerdale Borough Council have also committed to make an important contribution.
These funds go a long way towards achieving the partnership funding required, and together we hope to confirm all the partnership funding by the end of February 2012.
Once built, the scheme in Cockermouth will reduce the risk of flooding to a 1% chance of flooding in any one year, helping to protect homes and business from flooding from the River Cocker and the River Derwent.
What happens next?
A planning application for the Cockermouth Flood Risk Management Scheme was submitted to Allerdale Borough Council (the local planning authority) on 17 January 2012 and we hope to start constructing the scheme early summer 2012, once the partnership funding has been confirmed and all the necessary planning permissions are in place.
We have involved the community when designing the scheme which has allowed us to identify and address issues and concerns early and adapt the designs accordingly.
The Environment Agency are also starting some limited preliminary works in the town on 13 February 2012 which will take up to ten weeks to complete. These works are being carried out in the gardens behind properties on Waterloo Street and will provide protection to residents of Waterloo Street and Graves Mill.
Useful documents
Further information
For more information, advice, or to raise any concerns you may have about our work to reduce flood risk in Cockermouth please contact:
Keith Roddy, Cockermouth Flood Risk Management Scheme Project Manager on 01925 542782
or Adrian Bacon Area Flood Risk Management Engineer on 01925 542782 or 01768 215875.
FloodRiskCockermouth
