SOUTH LAKELAND: £16m flood plan survives second vote

South Lakeland District Council planners re-ran the application again despite it being unanimously approved more than two months ago.

Fresh criticisms were levelled at the loss of around 500 trees, the building of new flood defence walls and tall glass panels along the iconic riverside.

Campaigners argued that phase one would ruin the town’s appearance, despite hopes the scheme would shield residents and crucial heritage assets, such as the town's parish church and Abbot Hall, from an overwhelmed River Kent.

It would harm Kendal’s conservation area and the defences would fail homeowners if a “Storm Desmond,” ever struck again, they claimed.

However, Environment Agency bosses told planning committee members not to delay the opening phase of a £55 million three-part scheme for the river.

Lifelong Kendal resident Cheryl Berry “strongly opposed” the plans, as did “hundreds” of other Kendalians, including those on Aynam Road, she said.

Phases two and three were not guaranteed funding and therefore, phase one should not be agreed in “isolation” by the council, said Mrs Berry.

Without the other two phases – which have yet to get planning permission – phase one would not protect homes or businesses against severe storms, she said.

“Even if all three phases are implemented, the protection level is only a one-in-100 year flood,” said Mrs Berry, who added: “Remember, Storm Desmond was a one-in-200 years flood.”

However, Ian Kell, secretary of the Benson and Sandes Flood Action Group, implored the committee to support the scheme again. The decision to re-run the application had left many people worried, he added.

“The plans for phase one were debated and passed unanimously by your committee in March in full cognisance of the relevant policies,” said Mr Kell.

“Objections were given a fair hearing, and in many cases, shown to be without substantive justification. Please planning committee, do not dilute the authority of the unanimous approval of this scheme given in March and subsequently ratified by the Planning Inspectorate and central Government.”

Environment Agency bosses told the hearing that phase one - costing £16 million - would shield 227 properties, 71 businesses and 80 community facilities along the river.

Addressing councillors, Stewart Mounsey, the EA’s flood risk manager for Cumbria, said every year in Kendal, as many as 1,500 homes and 1,100 businesses had a one-in-five chance of flooding.

Mr Mounsey said: “It doesn’t provide a Storm Desmond level of protection because we’ve listened to people who told us the walls would be much too high. It’s much more than a flood scheme. We want it to be a part of an investment programme for the town and future generations. They face a very different climate. Flood risk is set to get worse if we choose to do nothing.”

Of the project, he said it would involve planting 3,600 trees to mitigate those lost, as well as numerous environmental and spin-off benefits. These included five hectares of recreational space to be created at Jubilee Fields, and improvements to New Road and Beezon Fields.

There would also be three kilometres of footpath improvements, cycle pathways and a “substantial” contribution to a new Gooseholme footbridge, he said.

Mr Mounsey said 2,150 homes in Kendal flooded during Storm Desmond.

It had left people “in fear when it rains,” unable to secure home insurances and had a devastating impact on their health and wellbeing.

Councillors were told the consultation period had exhausted 60 different options to try to find a solution.

Council planning officer Andrew Martin confirmed “there was no certainty” that phases two and three would proceed as planning applications.

However, he said: “By approving phase one,  indirectly you improve the chances of two and three,” although he said it was “critical” not to make any decision on that basis.

Councillors were told the plans were back before them due to “changes in planning circumstances,” and a need to protect the council from a potential legal challenge from objectors.

Planning committee member Cllr Kevin Lancaster said he had “no hesitation” in backing the plans for a second time.

Cllr Lancaster said: “I welcome the fact that officers have brought it back again. It makes it absolutely clear that all these matters have been taken seriously, as they were by the previous committee in March.

“I am absolutely certain it was the right thing to do.”

“Notwithstanding all the things that have happened, I have heard nothing today that makes me think this is not a very good scheme for Kendal.

“Nothing can be ideal but we are dealing with real problems in the real world. I think this is the best way forward.”

Cllr Vicky Hughes said she was torn as it would have an affect on the Kendal conservation area and the appearance of the River Kent.

“However, you have to take into consideration all those people who have been repeatedly flooded with damage to their properties and possessions, the mental health impact, the fear of being flooded again.”