Organisations come together to reconnect around flood and coastal risk and resilience in Cumbria
Cumbria County Council and the Environment Agency welcomed delegates from a range of organisations and community groups at a specially organised event in Kendal today to reconnect around flood and coastal resilience in the county.
The aim of the event was to celebrate the successes and achievements from the last two years, share learning and practical solutions, and create new connections for future working opportunities.
As Cumbria’s Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Cumbria County Council is responsible for managing local flooding, and monitoring the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy which outlines how local flood risks will be managed, who will manage flood risk, and how funding will be provided.
Over the last year, the Council alongside partners has delivered vital improvements as part of a programme of works. This includes the installation of new drainage systems; creation of bunds to capture, store and slow the flow of water; repair and replacement of damaged culverts; and diverting of compromised and restricted watercourses.
A number of projects used Natural Flood Management (NFM) techniques which not only reduce the risk of flooding but can achieve multiple benefits for people and wildlife, helping restore habitats, improving water quality and helping make catchments more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport was at the event and said:
“It has been great to bring together a host of organisations and community representatives to discuss not only the progress we’re making to reduce the risk of flooding across the county but future plans to significantly better protect properties and key infrastructure assets across different communities.
“As we well know, Cumbria has suffered significant flood events over the years. The County Council’s investment, alongside partners, into flood alleviation projects is essential to provide the best protection for our communities, and to avoid the devastation we know first-hand that flooding can bring to people’s lives, their homes and their families.
Stewart Mounsey, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for Cumbria, added:
“Reconnecting with people has been great. Partnership working is key and today has been about learning and sharing how we can work together to make communities in Cumbria more resilient to flooding and climate change.”
For more information from Cumbria County Council on flooding visit: cumbria.gov.uk/planning-environment/flooding/.
Stewart Mounsey, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for Cumbria, Angela Jones, Cumbria County Council Executive Director for Economy and Infrastructure and Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport