A milestone has been reached in Kendal’s flood management scheme.
The second phase of the installation of glass panels along the River Kent have been installed by contractors VolkerStevin.
The design incorporates specially designed and made self-cleaning glass panels and walls clad with local stone, to maintain views of the river.
The flood walls are finished in natural stone from a local quarry with the panels made of high-performance glass within a high specification stainless steel frame.
The new glass panels installed at Waterside in the centre of Kendal, are part of the multi-million-pound investment by the Government to improve flood protection to over 1,920 homes and more than 2,250 businesses in Kendal and Upper Kent area.
Local residents, councillors and partners involved in developing and installing the new glass flood panel technology, marked the opening yesterday with afternoon tea at Waterside Café, which has been closed several times to allow construction to take place.
Richard Knight, Environment Agency’s area flood and coastal risk manager for Cumbria, said: “The completion of this section of the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme is a key milestone.
“During construction we faced a number of challenges, working riverside over the winter months had its risks, but the most complex element was being able to identify a piling solution that would successfully drill into the rock.
“This was fundamental to creating the foundations needed for the glass panelled flood wall. The benefit of our works not only reduces flood risk but also strengthens the historic original riverside wall.
“The installation of these specialist glass panels is a very visible part of the flood scheme. We have been able to use glass technology specifically for Kendal to ensure protection, retain views of the river and provide a defence which requires low maintenance for the community.”
