A £3.3 million flood defence scheme in Kendal has been transferred by South Lakeland District Council to the Environment Agency.

Ownership and responsibility of the Stock Beck Flood Relief Scheme has now been taken over by the agency. But flood storage land will be retained by the council for grazing purposes.

As a result of substantial pressure from the council, Government funding was secured for the flood relief scheme following the devastating floods of 1999, and the council developed and built the current dam and flood control works.

The project was completed in 2007 and has reduced the threat of flooding to the 140 properties above and 170 properties below the scheme. with no flooding recorded.

Coun Sue Sanderson, portfolio holder for Environment and People, said: “Stock Beck will continue to provide important flood protection to homes in Kendal.

“For the council this is the final piece of the jigsaw, from initially proposing the scheme to obtaining the funding for the final development.”