Farron: drainage doors must be cleared to reduce flood risk

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron is calling on the Environment Agency to do more to ensure that the drainage doors are maintained, to help deal with flooding in the Lyth Valley.

At a meeting with a group of local farmers and NFU reps, the issue of the drainage doors at Foulshaw was raised. Farmers are concerned that large build-ups of mud are preventing the doors from functioning as they should, meaning that water which should be let out is trapped because the doors cannot open.

Tim has written to the Environment Minister, who is in charge of the Environment Agency, calling for the area around the drainage doors to be cleared without delay so that the mechanism is able to work and let the water out.

Tim has also asked the government to commit to funding the Lyth Valley pumps indefinitely, highlighting the "strategic risk" posed by flooding in the area due to the A590 being the key route through to the west of Cumbria.

At the meeting, the farmers also discussed with Tim their ongoing issues with the Rural Payments Agency, as well as their concerns about the future of farm support payments after 2020.

Tim said: "The last year has shown the terrible damage that flooding can cause. The government has a duty to do all it can to prevent flooding in the Lyth Valley, which is why I am calling for the drainage doors to be cleared without delay. The doors must be able to open to let water out, to ensure that the flood risk is minimised as far as possible.

"I am also pressing the government to commit to funding the Lyth Valley pumps indefinitely, to end the uncertainty about what will happen when the current agreement ends.

"I enjoyed meeting the farmers to hear about the issues that affect them, and am committed to doing all I can to stand up for the industry."