CONSIDERABLE attention is being devoted to the loss of trees which would be involved during the work to improve the flood defences in Kendal.

Very little appears to have been said about replacing trees after the civil engineering work has been completed.

This is not rocket science. These days quite fair-sized trees can be transplanted. Not only that, the tree replacement could be paid for by public subscription.

That said, has any consideration been given to lateral thinking regarding the emergency flood precautions, other than the proposed works?

I would like to suggest an idea, which could turn out to be a non-starter. But, on the other hand, it might be worth examination.

Parts of the long-time redundant Kendal/Lancaster Canal still exist. It would cost very little to examine the practicality of using the remains of the canal as an emergency relief route to divert some of the floodwater past Kendal and thus take some of the load off the river in town.

This sort of thing may not be as daft as it at first sounds. A connection to the river via a suitable gate or similar with a threshold just above normal spate level could be made at a suitable point upstream of Kendal.

In an emergency excess floodwater could be diverted into the canal to be discharged back into the river downstream of Kendal.

Clearly there would be problems such as the canal not being suitable for conveying large quantities of flowing water. However, it would be preferable to repair damage to the canal in slow time, rather than making good damaged domestic property in town.

If such a scheme should appear to be feasible there could be a few advantages apart from the flood problem. It could quite a help to canal enthusiasts for at least part of the canal.

The idea is at least worth a glance by a suitably qualified person when we remember how long Kendal has been suffering flood damage.

J.B. Holme

Greenodd