‘Kendal flood prevention scheme must go ahead’ South Lakes MP tells Parliament

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, local MP Tim Farron made the case for the Environment Agency's flood relief scheme for the River Kent to go ahead.

Speaking during a debate on the environment, Tim said: "Our communities are still reeling four years on from the catastrophic floods of Storm Desmond. Indeed, in the last decade or so we have been hit by three floods, each of which was classified as a one-in-200-year event. Storm Desmond flooded 7,500 homes and more than 1,000 businesses.

"We have to mitigate the impact of climate change on families and businesses whilst building the infrastructure to prevent a climate catastrophe.

"That is why Kendal's flood prevention scheme must be delivered.

"All three phases of the flood scheme are now fully funded, and I'm glad that after much pressure, the biggest concerns about the scheme have been answered now that every tree that will be felled as part of the scheme, six new ones will be planted in the town, many of which will be semi-mature.

"I was there the morning after Storm Desmond and the weeks after, I saw people's lives ruined, families left in poverty, businesses wiped out, children even today still unable to sleep any time it rains - and I could not look the people in the eye on Appleby Road, on Mintsfeet Road, on Sandylands Road, on Shap Road or on Ann Street if I didn't do everything in my power to deliver them some kind of protection, some kind of peace of mind.

"So, after four years of promises, four years of fear whenever it pours, four years of incalculable strain on mental health for young and old alike - how dare I seek to represent them if I do not see these flood defences delivered."