Two organisations have expressed their dismay that flood defence work will be allowed to go ahead on a Kendal common.
The Environment Agency has been granted permission to go ahead with the work on New Road Common, part of a wider scheme to protect 1,400 homes and 1,100 businesses in the town.
But The Open Spaces Society and Friends of the Lake District said the work will damage the riverside common and make access more difficult. Kendal Civic Society also objected.
The agency had to get permission from the Government for the work, because they for common land.
The New Road application is for a linear flood-defence wall, three floodgates, pedestrian gate, surface-water drainage, and the reprofiling of the slipway to the River Kent.
Planning inspector Claire Tregembo said she recognised that the proposed wall would have an adverse effect on the open character of the common, she did not consider the impact to be substantial over the longer term.
She said: “The public benefits of the work, both socially and economically, would outweigh any impact on public access, the neighbourhood, nature conservation, the landscape, and archaeological or historic features.”
However, objectors say the work will alter the feel and experience of the common, making it enclosed.
The Open Spaces Society argued that the work was against the spirit of the scheme of management, made under the Commons Act 1899 and approved by order in March 1910. The order said: “The council shall do nothing that may otherwise vary or alter the natural features or aspect of the common or interfere with free access to every part thereof.”
The Open Spaces Society and Friends of the Lake District argued that, in view of the scale and the intrusive nature of the work, the Environment Agency should have offered land in exchange for that to be taken, under the Commons Act 2006, but that was not accepted by Ms Tregembo, the organisations said.
Ian Brodie, of the Open Spaces Society, said: ‘We deeply regret the further significant erosion of open green spaces adjacent to the river.
“While we understand the consideration of flood remediation schemes for Kendal, there are other ways of dealing with the defences without such a great and intrusive impact on people who want to enjoy the riverbank.”
The Environment Agency said: “We understand the balance between ensuring the town is protected from the devastation of flooding while also maintaining public facilities and access to nature which is why the improved design and landscape plans were shaped by feedback from the community. The importance of the character and heritage of Kendal town centre has played a key role in developing the proposals.
“We are committed to ensuring the community is updated and involved in Kendal Flood Scheme as it progresses. Residents can visit the Flood Scheme Information Hub in the town to find out more and ask questions about the scheme.”
