5 years on from the Cumbrian floods - MP keeps pressing for better flood defences

Five years on from the 2009 Cumbrian floods that left many towns throughout our county deluged or underwater, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has praised communities for rebuilding and used the anniversary to press the government to do more on flood mitigation schemes.

In 2009, record rainfalls were recorded in the county as the rivers, streams and becks spilled into homes and businesses. Today is the fifth anniversary of homes and businesses across Cumbria being devastated by flooding after record rain fell on already saturated ground.

At the time emergency relief centres catered for hundreds of displaced people. Cockermouth and Keswick were the worst towns affected, but many other communities across Cumbria like Burneside, Backbarrow and Kendal felt the impact of the deluge. Since the 2005 Cumbrian floods the Environment Agency has spent £55 million on flood schemes.

In February of this year Tim helped secure £2 million of government cash to be used for flood defences in the Workington, Ulverston and Threlkeld areas. There will also be restoration work on the rivers Kent, Derwent and Eden.

Tim has pushed hard for extra funds to protect residents alongside the River Kent in South Lakeland. He recently raised the issue in the House of Commons and asked for the Government to prioritise local flood relief schemes after the recent bad weather. Tim discussed flooding issues with Defra minister Dan Rogerson MP yesterday.

Tim said: "In the last five years communities have pulled together and dealt not only with the floods but the after affects. I am still dealing with the some of the issues around insurance after all this time. But that community spirit shown so vividly in 2009 is what makes Cumbria such a unique place and somewhere I'm proud to call home.

"I will keep pressing the government to provide more support and funding for both flood defence and mitigation schemes to make sure communities, homes and businesses are defended."