Cumbria County Council will commence the initial stages of a major project to install new flood resilience and defence infrastructure in the Penrith Road area of Keswick later this week.
As Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) for Cumbria, the county council is responsible for the management of surface water flood risk. The Penrith Road area of Keswick forms one of the greatest areas of surface water flood risk in the county in terms of scale, frequency and impact on the local community.
The works, valued at approximately £2m will see the construction of a new flood storage attenuation basin at Springs Field, and a new pumping station underneath or adjacent to Penrith Road, which will discharge in to the River Greta. Additional protection measures will also be completed to enhance the protection and resilience of properties between Ambleside Road and Penrith Road, with improved drainage to facilitate the run-off of surface water.
Construction work is intended to commence on site in August 2019. Any disruption this may have to the local highway network, including temporary closures and diversion routes, will be communicated as soon as possible following the final design and confirmation of the schedule of works. The council will ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum and that access is maintained for local residents and businesses where possible.
In the meantime, some minor initial ground works – including the survey and assessment of nearby streets will be completed. The council intends to submit planning application documents for the construction of the new flood basin and pumping station within the next month. These plans will then inform a clearer timeline for the delivery of the project, and we will ensure the local community is kept informed of all developments and activity as the scheme develops.
There will be a community drop-in event to discuss and ask any questions about the project. This meeting will be held during April and will be publicised in due course.
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “I am delighted to see that the early stages of this important scheme are underway. A lot of detailed background work has been carried out behind the scenes to understand how and why flooding tends to be more devastating in the Penrith Road area of Keswick than other parts of the county.
“This is a significant investment managed by the county council of up to £2m and will protect hundreds of properties from future flooding events, and stop the extent of surface water form disrupting the surrounding highways and local businesses.
“We’re committed to ensuring the local community is involved and informed every step of the way throughout the project, and we will be promoting a public drop-in meeting for people to attend in the near future.”
