Keswick anti-flood campaigner Lynne Jones is calling on Cumbria County Council to make changes along Brundholme Road before lockdown ends to prevent problems returning during heavy rain.
The chairwoman of Keswick Flood Action Group (KFAG) says builders are set to replace a six-inch pipe, which runs under the road, with a nine-inch one to prevent run-off from Calvert Way estate from flooding roads and homes in nearby Brundholme Gardens.
Arguments over drainage and surface run-off in the area have raged since three homes flooded in the area during Storm Desmond in 2015. Since then, a community pump has been installed at Brundholme Gardens to prevent the homes from flooding again.
But despite talks between Keswick Community Housing Trust, the county council, United Utilities, Atkinson’s builders and the Lake District National Park Authority – nothing else has yet been done.
In August 2019 it was agreed that a new nine-inch pipe was needed to feed into the river, with the county council bearing the cost because existing drainage was inadequate.
At the time, a Section 278 agreement for the pipe installation was needed which, Mrs Jones says she was told, would take about two months.
Now 18 months later, the contractors remain on standby to do the work but the county council has said it could possibly be carried out at the end of May.
Mrs Jones said: “There is no urgency over this and precious little respect for what we, as a community, have tried to do to resolve the problems.
“Whilst I believe there have been many faults along the way, the latest delay is firmly with the county council.
“KFAG wants to support local housing but we have seen nothing in the last five years that gives us confidence that lessons have been learned and we remain concerned over any future phase of development at Calvert Way. If it turns out that the end of May is still the only option then I have asked for a guarantee of a named week that the work can be done – no more promises and delays.”
A county council spokesman said: “Works to upgrade the drainage system in Brundholme Road are intended to commence in late May.
“These dates and a schedule for the works will be confirmed in the near future. The drainage improvements will reduce the risk of flooding in the area, improve existing highway drainage, and prevent overland flows.”
