Cockermouth residents are worried about a lengthy road closure for drainage work – and upset at the lack of warning.

One man whose home was flooded last December has had his dreams of being back in for Christmas shattered.

The work will take place on High Sand Lane and Main Street and is expected to last six weeks. Two-way vehicle access will be maintained on Main Street throughout.

Darren Ward lives in Cockton’s Yard, off Waterloo Street. His property was badly flooded last December and he has been living in Horsman Street while working hard to put his home back together.

But his plans to be back in for Christmas have been put on hold after the county council’s announcement that vital drainage work is due to start in the town centre next week.

At a public meeting last week to discuss the work, residents who live on High Sand Lane and beyond were told vehicle and pedestrian access would be limited.

While they realise the work needs to be done, many of them are still repairing their flood-hit homes and are upset by the delays this will cause. Others are worried about how their lives will be affected and angry about the lack of warning and information.

Mr Ward said: “I think it’s completely unacceptable that this is going ahead without a full consultation when they knew they were going to need to close the road.

“The county council is working for the public – they must keep us informed, even if it’s bad news.

“I have been waiting and waiting to get a kitchen sorted, it is on order and should be delivered right in the middle of the works. A significant proportion of people are still having work done, but this will all have to stop when the road is closed. People will not be able to get back in for Christmas.”

Ros Earthy, of Waterloo Street, said: “While I realise the work has to be done, I’m upset by the lack of warning. I think it’s unreasonable there was no prior warning or consultation. It was presented to us as a fait accompli.”

Rose Lothian, 86, lives in Victoria Court sheltered accommodation for older people off High Sand Lane. “There are 20 apartments here and it’s going to affect us all,” said Mrs Lothian. “The biggest problem is access. I like to go out every day.”

Firefighter Rob Hogan lives in High Sand Lane. He works in Cockermouth and Workington and will have to leave his car at the town base when the road is blocked. “Not having vehicle access is going to affect a lot of people,” he said.

Two-way vehicle access on Main Street will be maintained at all times and alternative parking arrangements

have been made for residents. Allerdale council will reduce parking charges in Wakefield Road car park to £1 for up to three hours during the Main Street roadworks to compensate for the loss of on-street disc parking spaces.

The work will be done in two stages. It will be suspended in the run up to Christmas and is due to restart, for seven weeks, in January.