Lack of action over flood defences - MP candidate

Storm Desmond caused flooding in Carlisle in 2015

People in Carlisle are vulnerable to flooding because of a lack of action over flood defences, according to a Labour politician.

Julie Minns, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Carlisle, accused the Environment Agency of a “wall of silence” over the final phase of a scheme in the city.

The Environment Agency said it was still “taking forwards” the project on the River Caldew.

The Conservative MP for Carlisle, John Stevenson, said "a substantial amount of money" had already been spent on flood defences in the city.

Labour parliamentary candidate for Carlisle Julie Minns accused the government of "doing nothing"

The Environment Agency (EA) began a £25m flood defence programme in Carlisle, following Storm Desmond and widespread flooding in 2015.

A press release from 2019 said the three-phase project would be completed in 2021.

Most of the first two phases have now been completed, but the third phase, dealing with the River Caldew, has not begun and the EA is still considering what it should consist of.

The EA reportedly told residents a proposal to “raise existing defences” along the river would not go ahead, but the agency would look at other options.

'On a knife-edge'

Brenda Graham, whose Carlisle flat is a few metres from the River Caldew and was flooded in 2015, said it was “a worry” when it rained heavily.

“They should tell us what they intend to do and when they intend to do it, because lots and lots of people I know were flooded and they live on a knife-edge sometimes,” she said.

Brenda Graham's home flooded in 2015

Ms Minns said: “There has been a wall of silence now for the last three years. Why the delay? Why the silence?”

She accused the government of “doing nothing” and said Labour would introduce a task force to “target resources” at communities at risk of flooding.

John Stevenson, the Conservative MP for Carlisle, told BBC Politics North that £25m had already been invested in the city's flood defences.

He added the Environment Agency had been looking at the scheme and whether they wanted to reconfigure the plans.

Conservative MP John Stevenson said £25m had already been spent on flood defences

"That is something they will have to look at, that is something beyond the expertise of an MP," Mr Stevenson said.

An EA spokesperson said: “Protecting communities from flooding is our top priority and we’ve invested significant sums to reduce flood risk across the north.

“This includes £25m on the Carlisle Flood Defence Scheme, £76m for the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme and £6.5m on the completed Hexham Flood Scheme.”

The spokesperson added that the “Caldew Flood Risk Management Scheme” would be among the agency’s future investment.

BBC Politics North (North East and Cumbria) is broadcast at 10:00 GMT on Sunday on BBC One, and available afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.