“Carlisle Flood Action Group welcomes this project because it is aimed at the source of the most extensive area of flooding in the City during Storm Desmond. The defence levels in this area were not comprehensive enough following the works undertaken after the 2005 flood such that the River Petteril outflanked and overtopped into the defended areas creating flood damage even greater than 2005. As a group we much prefer to see catchment-wide river management and non-permeable development kept away from the flood plain to save the need to increase defence walls and banks because we are very conscious that such engineering requires regular maintenance to maintain, particularly difficult financially after a benign period between flood events, and if they fail the degree of devastation increases. For example improved river conveyance through the pinch point at Botcherby Bridge and beyond to the Eden has to be a long term goal. In this context it is hoped that the informal storage area of Milbourne Park will become less critical in the future. The current project is therefore seen as a good ‘start’ to achieving these goals but by no means an end”.
