Flood defence approved after anti-social fears

The plans for flood defences at the site were originally approved in 2019

Plans to raise ground levels next to a flood defence wall in response to anti-social behaviour fears have been given the green light.

Westmorland and Furness Council has approved an application from the Environment Agency (EA) to regrade the ground levels in order to reduce the appearance of the defence from within New Road Common in Kendal.

Concerns had been raised that the solid stone wall next to the River Kent would "reduce visibility" onto the common and lead to anti-social behaviour.

Glass panel walls were proposed by councillors instead, but the EA said the use of glass would add in the region of £750,000 to the scheme and delay construction by a year.

Plans for flood defences at the site were previously approved in 2019, but had to be changed because of "additional topographical data".

The revised proposal with raised ground levels was approved by the South Lakeland planning committee in September, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Matt Severn, previously said the proposed solid stone walls would "reduce visibility".

"I fear the proposals as they stand would make New Road a no-go area for some people as they would feel unsafe, and would be worried about harassment as they are no longer visible when exercising across the common," he said.