MP wants collapsed building keys to be handed over

Part of the Old Courthouse fell into the River Cocker in October 2023

An MP has demanded the owner of a collapsed Grade-II listed building hands over its keys to allow for flood defence work.

Part of the Old Courthouse in Cockermouth, Cumbria, fell into the River Cocker in October 2023, but a flood warning on Tuesday renewed concerns about the building.

Penrith and Solway MP Markus Campbell-Savours submitted his third Early Day Motion to Parliament about the courthouse as a result, asking owner Samiul Ahmed to give it to the Environment Agency.

A spokesperson for Mr Ahmed's company Halal Group said the building was "not for sale" and if the Labour MP wanted the keys "he should make a proper offer". Mr Ahmed has also been approached for comment.

The spokesperson added Campbell-Savours had turned the building into a "political prop".

On Tuesday, video showed the River Cocker flowing into the open back of the building, which is about 190 years old and was last used in 2021. Mr Ahmed bought it at auction in 2022 for £51,000.

Water could be seen flowing into the courthouse due to the high levels of the River Cocker on Tuesday

In the motion text, Campbell-Savours said the EA had installed additional flood barriers around the building and this was the third flood season with "no progress on securing this dangerously unstable building".

It goes on to say there is a "clear and present danger to residents" due to the delay.

Early Day Motions (EDMs) are submitted for debate in the House of Commons where no date has been fixed.

The spokesperson for Mr Ahmed said Campbell-Savours kept tabling EDMs instead of taking action.

Kerry Harmer, EA flood operations manager, said the "permanent repair works to flood defences" next to the Old Courthouse have been "temporarily paused due to safety concerns with the current condition of the building".

Ms Harmer added the issues have been raised with Mr Ahmed and the EA remained "open to working with them to enable timely completion of the repairs to the flood defences protecting Cockermouth".

'Not for sale'

Campbell-Savours has submitted two previous EDMs, one in September and another in June, the latter said he wanted Mr Ahmed to demonstrate he had the means and commitment to restore the building.

The spokesperson for the Halal Group said: "If [Campbell-Savours] is genuinely concerned about safeguarding Cockermouth, the solution is simple: the Old Courthouse is not for sale, but if he wants to keys, he should make a proper offer instead of chasing headlines."

They added they wanted the MP to publish a full record of what he has done to hold the relevant authorities to account since meeting with them in September 2024 where he "promised action".

Campbell-Savours said Mr Ahmed had "placed the town of Cockermouth at risk with his handling of the Old Courthouse".

"When Mr Ahmed said he wants me to hold the authorities to account he really means he wants the MP to see more taxpayers' money wasted on his folly."