A Cumbrian MP has demanded that the owner of Cockermouth’s Old Courthouse should hand over the keys.
Fears were growing yesterday as the River Cocker began to rise and water began to wash into the bottom half of the building.
The Grade II-listed building, owned by Samuil Ahmed, partially collapsed into the river in October 2023.
Very little – if any – work has been carried out since then. Mr Ahmed blames Cumberland Council for holding up his plans. However, privately-owned buildings are the responsibility of their owners.
Following severe weather yesterday, Tuesday November 4, and a flood warning has been issued for the town.
This morning, Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway, has put down his third Early Day Motion about the Old Courthouse.
It says: “That this House notes that the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for Cockermouth on 4 November 4 2025 and observes that the agency has installed additional flood barriers around the collapsed Grade II-listed Old Courthouse on the River Cocker.
“It further notes that the agency reports it is closely monitoring Cocker Bridge, all at the taxpayers’ expense.
“It decries the fact that we have entered a third flood season with no progress on securing this dangerously unstable building which the owner Samiul Ahmed allowed to fall into the River Cocker.
“It condemns Mr Ahmed’s ongoing attempts to deflect responsibility onto Cumberland Council.
“It highlights the clear and present danger to residents and the town caused by the resultant delay to capital works on the river bank and demands that Mr Ahmed immediately hands over the keys of the Old Courthouse to allow the Environment Agency to get on with the urgent and necessary task of rebuilding Cockermouth’s vital flood defences.”
Mr Ahmed bought the building, one of the oldest in the West Cumbrian market town, for £51,000 in 2022.
He says legal notices from Cumberland Council are stopping him from doing anything. The council said legal notices did not prevent an owner from carrying out work on their property.
Early Day Motions are used to put on record the views of individual MPs or to draw attention to specific events or campaigns. They are motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons with no specified date. Very few are actually debated, but they flag up issues that are of concern to MPs.
Mr Campbell-Savours’ previous Early Day Motion in September demanded action to be taken.
