Last updated 19:27, Thursday, 20 November 2008

COCKERMOUTH residents affected by last month’s devastating floods will see new flood defence work beginning in December.

Many residents living on Gote Road, Waterloo Street and Croft Flats were evacuated when heavy rainfall caused houses to flood.

The Environment Agency, responsible for flood defences, has been sending out letters to people affected, and says that work will begin on December 1.

The agency said that last month’s heavy rainfall caused the highest recorded river levels on the River Cocker and River Derwent.

The work will be carried out by Askam Construction Ltd and it is hoped it will be completed by next spring.

The agency says that survey work has been carried out since the 2005 floods, looking at existing flood defences on Waterloo Street, and areas for improvement have been identified.

Existing defences will be raised by a combination of earth embankments and flood defence walls.

Residents will experience some disruption during daylight hours. However, the agency will contact each resident directly if it needs access to gardens.

The agency will also look at Gote Road area problems which are said to be complicated because of the various flood sources such as the river, surface water, groundwater and sewers.

Work would involve removal of a substantial amount of gravel that has built up in the River Derwent around Gote Bridge.

The process is due to start next week subject to relevant permission being granted and good weather.

The agency said the gravel only caused a very small increase in flood risk for the area.

Tree stumps and debris will be removed near Gote Bridge. Debris near Harris footbridge, to the Memorial Gardens, will also be cleared, and a study is being done on the amount of gravel in the Bitterbeck area which may also be removed.