New plans to tackle flooding concerns on a huge housing development in Cockermouth will just make problems worse, it has been claimed.

Story Homes, which is to build 320 homes off Strawberry How Road, has applied to Allerdale council to amend an approved planning application in a bid to alleviate flooding issues.

But Bob Pritchard, of Pinfold Close, Cockermouth, who has objected to the application, said: “Flooding was a key issue in the 800-plus objections to this scheme and this subsequent application for variation only confirms the views of the objectors.

“The effect would be to discharge even larger amounts of water into Tom Rudd Beck and thus into the rivers Cocker and Derwent. There is already severe danger of flooding in the town and this permission would only exacerbate it.”

The company has submitted a list of proposed amendments to the council, which include a “storm overflow channel/cutting” and “improvements to existing outfall pipes”.

The company wants to create a one-metre wide ridge within the existing pedestrian embankment. It says: “This will allow a through route and further safeguard the dwellings in that area by directing pluvial flows away from the development and to the northern side of the embankment gaining access towards the Tom Rudd Beck.”

Mr Pritchard said: “We have always said it was an unsuitable site to build on because it was prone to flooding and acts as a sump and reservoir there. The fields there always get extremely wet and stop so much water running off.

“Story Homes should be made to retain water in bunds or reservoirs on site and reduce the number of houses they plan to build there.”

Giles Finegan, senior engineer for Story Homes, said: “There is an existing watercourse to the east of the site which flows to a pipe beneath the former railway and into the beck. Last winter, the culvert became blocked and water flowed overland, along the former railway and then into the beck further downstream.

“In the future, the former railway will become a footpath. The proposed cutting through the embankment will stop water flowing along the path, and direct the water towards the blue (nature) corridor and into the beck.”

Allerdale and Cockermouth town councillor Alan Smith called in Story Homes’ plans for retrospective advertisement consent this week, calling the housing developer “cavalier” after it put up signs promoting a controversial development without permission.

He told Allerdale council’s development panel on Tuesday the signage had been in place for three or four months and he was concerned it could distract drivers.

The developer applied for retrospective permission for two hoarding signs, a sales cabin sign, an A-board and a single advertisement board. It also sought an additional pair of flags on poles.

Planning officers recommended approval, stating they were considered appropriate and would not adversely affect road users.

The panel voted to approve everything apart from the flags and poles.