Last updated at 12:35, Friday, 12 March 2010

MINISTER for Marine and Natural Environment Huw Irranca-Davies visited Cumbria yesterday to see the progress of flood recovery work and announce extra Government funding.

• VIDEO: Defra minister in Cockermouth

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On his visit Mr Irranca-Davies announced a further £2.6 million to be donated against flooding with more than £330,000 directed to householders in Cumbria.

He visited Little Braithwaite where £250,000 of funding was announced to repair public rights of way in the Lake District National Park.

He finally visited Cockermouth to see the recovery work that was taking place.

Mr Irranca-Davies was shown round the town by Cockermouth flood recovery co-ordinator Les Tickner and visited the Trout Hotel on Crown Street, Dovenby Craggs field, Wordsworth House, Main Street businesses Leslie Cleeland and The Bush, P Wilson Butchers on Market Place.

They were joined by Dave Martin, Allerdale council's director of partnerships and community, town mayor Stephen Coates, Jonty Chippendale, chairman of Cockermouth and District Chamber of Trade.

He also saw the dredging work taking place on the River Derwent and Adrian Bacon of the Environment Agency explained to Mr Irranca-Davies the work that they had been carrying out to remove thousands of tonnes of gravel from the river.

Mr Irranca-Davies, who visited Cockermouth directly after the floods, was pleased with the progress that had been made since his last visit.

He said: "It is good to see that a lot of the retailers have managed to continue despite what has happened to them.

"There is a lot of activity both down on the Main Street and at the temporary units but there is still a lot of work to do.

"However, after speaking to the shopkeepers I can see a degree of optimism in the town and it will be good to see them back down on to the Main Street when their businesses have been refurbished."

Mr Irranca-Davies also had a walk round Main Street at Mitchell's on Station Road as well as Mitchell's Retail Mart of Lorton Street where he bought a jar of chutney from Jon Sharp, owner of Lakeland Seasons.

He added: "The extra units provided have been a great help in helping to keep those businesses viable until they are ready to move back down on to the Main Street."

The money provided to protect homes will be used to fund better drainage, flood gates, storm porches and raising the height of electrical sockets.

Mr Irranca-Davies said: "The money given to these households will be a great help.
"It is another step forward towards recovery and more than 30 homes in Keswick have already benefited from the extra funding and hopefully many more can in the coming months."
 

First published at 22:07, Thursday, 11 March 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk