MEASURES to help prevent future flooding in South Lakeland are to be unveiled at two public meetings organised by the Environment Agency.

Solutions such as using upstream reservoirs to store more water and the placement of flood defence walls on river banks will be discussed at the meetings to be held in Kendal and Staveley next month.

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The EA is to work with local flood action groups and Kendal Engineering Society to investigate how to best implement the measures.

Maggie Mason, of the Kendal Flood Action Group, said: "The EA has been talking to us and trying to work out their proposals for the River Kent.

"I think they have been doing some good work. These are really complicated issues and it is important that they come to a decision as soon as possible.

"We do not have a lot of detail yet. We only know the sorts of things that may be on the shortlist. We will find out more at the meetings.

"The EA seem to be willing to provide enough money to solve the problems we have, which is really good news."

In a newsletter sent to the flood action groups, the EA outlined the work they had done so far.

This includes a re-modelling of the flood catchment area and the removal of gravel from areas of the River Kent considered to be high risk.

Damage to the Stock Beck Flood Basin has also been repaired, as have the River Kent channel walls.

The letter went on to explain proposed future work. It said: "Options which are most likely to move forward include a combination of upstream flood storage and flood walls or embankments to protect properties on both sides of the Rivers Kent and Mint.

"Several upstream flood storage locations are being considered and we will share details of the most likely flood storage locations and the flood defences at the community drop-in meeting.

"Flood storage in the Birds Park catchment of Stock Beck is also being considered to help control flood flows taking into account the limited capacity of the culverted watercourses that flow under the ground on the Sandylands estate.

"Some of the culverts will be replaced increasing the capacity to pass more flood water."

The drop in meetings will take place at Kendal Town Hall on February 7 and at Staveley Village Hall on February 8, between 2pm and 7pm.