THOSE who suffered in the South Lakes due to flooding last year will have a chance to understand the Environment Agency's plans for the area at a public meeting.

The Environment Agency has confirmed that it will reveal its list of ideas for improving flood resilience in the area in May.

However Kendal Flood Action Group has raised concerns that the Agency's proposed 'drop in' meetings and 'invitation only' discussion sessions will not give the whole community a real voice, especially if nobody has seen the plans beforehand.

It is for this reason that the public meeting, to be held on Thursday April 20 in advance of the other opportunities, has been organised.

Maggie Mason, of North East Kendal Flood Action Group said: "Many residents who suffered badly in Storm Desmond have been too busy trying to rebuild their lives to form groups or get registered with the Environment Agency as flood groups.

"Town and Parish Councillors and individuals in many areas have also been getting people together, but we need to build wider contact networks for Cumbria and for each river catchment, and decide how to push for the investment and actions we need."

Paul Barnes, a farmer and environmentalist from Braithwaite near Keswick has made contact with many farmers and rural residents in the south of the county, and will make a presentation at the Kendal meeting on the April 20.

He said: "Residents, and farmers in the north of Cumbria have got together to set up new group called Cumbria Rivers Authority Governance Group (CRAGG) but people from South Lakeland also need to have a say on issues like management of rivers and gravel, upland flood management, infrastructure investment or flood defences".

The meeting will take place at Kendal Town Hall. There is also a Facebook group called 'South Lakes Community Flood Coalition' which can be joined.