A ford could be created on a main Workington road to help protect homes from future flooding.

The proposal, which would take Mill Stream over the A596 at Hall Brow, is one of a series of possible options put forward to protect Workington and Barepot from future floods.

Other options include rebuilding eroded banks of the River Derwent and other Workington watercourses, putting measures in place to prevent future erosion, repairing the wall at Soapery Beck, creating an embankment in Hall Park, and using an existing wall to help store water in the park to prevent excess water flowing into Hall Park View.

Also under consideration is removing the Yearl and Coop Weir and reconnecting the floodplain along Stan Beck and Scale Beck at Stainburn.

There are around a dozen options each for both Maryport and Flimby.

They include new surface water drains at Main Street, Senhouse Street and Lawson Street in Maryport, carrying out channel clearance at Station Bridge in the River Ellen and providing temporary barriers for properties at risk of flooding along the A596 at Senhouse Street.

There is also the possibility of making the retaining wall at Selby Terrace watertight as well as installing a new Tarmac ramp between Ellenborough Road and Sycamore Road to redirect flood water, as well as between the A594 and Gillbeck Park.

In Flimby, options include capturing and storing surface run-off on Risehow Beck, replacing or relining Flimby Gill Culvert, increasing the capacity of the roadside drainage ditches at Church Road, storing surface run-off in the field south of Elm Avenue and creating a flood storage area either side of Farmers Way.

The A596 Main Road could also be closed in anticipation of a flood.

Options being considered in Cockermouth include widening and deepening the River Derwent to increase its capacity and improving the existing flood defences near Derwentside Gardens.

Improving the River Cocker’s flood plains in the Lorton Valley to hold back more water is also being considered, removing gravel at nearby Thackthwaite, and increasing the storage capacity at Crummock Water.

Proposals to manage water levels at Ouse Bridge, at the lower end of Bassenthwaite, to retain flood water is also being considered.

Keswick options include improving flood resilience of properties on Brewery Street and creating an additional flood relief culvert through Greta Bridge.

There is also an option to improve routing of surface water in the area around Windebrowe Avenue and replace Calvert Bridge and Forge Bridge with steel span structures.

There is also an option of managing bank erosion and tree works on the River Greta.

The options have been put together by the Environment Agency.

It has also been revealed that, thanks to Government funding for roads in the wake of the 2015 floods, the council will plough just under £20 million into improving roads in Allerdale in this financial year, up from £4.5 million last year.

People have a chance to view the ideas at a community drop-in event next week.

In Barepot, options include realigning Gale Brook upstream of Barepot culvert, repairing the culvert, ensuring the hamlet’s reservoir is maintained by its owner, removing vegetation from the brook more frequently and installing property resistance and resilience measures.

Andy Brown, flood risk manager for the EA, said: “These are options – nothing is set in stone. These drop-in sessions are to help gain insight into the best way forward to reduce flood risk.”

Amanda Wallace, chairman of Workington Flood Action Group, said many of the ideas seemed to have stemmed from conversations the group had with the agency.

She is calling for whatever measures are brought in to be long-term solutions, not “sticking plasters”.

She added: “This is yet another meeting and until any work actually starts we’re no further forward. Winter is rapidly approaching yet again.

“Until I see some evidence of long-term solutions I have to remain on the fence.”

She also expressed concern that the drop-ins would not be long enough for people to give detailed feedback.

Drop-ins will take place at Skiddaw Hotel, Keswick, on Wednesday and Christ Church, in Cockermouth, next Friday, both between 3pm and 8pm.

To view the options online, visit bit.ly/2r031CP