KENDAL itself had a narrow escape from Storm Ciara; Burneside didn't.

Friends of mine in Keswick stayed up all night worrying that Thirlmere Reservoir would overtop and flood the town; Appleby was hit badly.

Those who were lucky can thank a "kink in the jetstream" which directed flooding to other areas, but our hills and valleys remain sodden and our homes and businesses at risk.

How do those who oppose the building of our flood defences rationalise their actions? The "Open Spaces" common land application at Gooseholme is likely to delay Phase 1 of the flood defences by another year by preventing construction of the pumping station that would take flows from Stock Beck into the river when levels are high. As a result, Phase 2 to protect Burneside, and Phase 3 to bring up the full one-in-100-year protection for Kendal, and the diversion of upland flows that would protect Sandylands, can't be built.

I have looked carefully for any evidence that would justify any of the arguments in the notorious Save the Heart of Kendal leaflet that was put through our doors, and the only "case" based on truth is the "visual" or "urban conservation" impact.

However, no matter how much we love a particular line of trees, or the look of railings instead of walls, that is not a justifiable reason to leave homes and businesses to flood.

My heart breaks for people around Cumbria who flooded during Storm Ciara, or who stayed up anxiously watching all night. Property-level flood protection is a good idea for those who can afford it, but often fails and doesn't help those caught on the street.

I completely agree that Cumbrian fells should be allowed to develop natural tree cover, starting immediately, and that natural flood measures should be put in place, but the climate tragedy facing us needs every measure we can muster.

Flood defences are needed now as the first and quickest way to protect our towns and villages, and natural measures, which take time to grow and develop, to provide protection in the years to come as global temperatures and rainfall intensity rise.

Maggie Mason BA (Architecture), Diploma in Town Planning

Kendal