PROPOSALS to amend part of Kendal’s flood defence scheme would create a ‘no go area’ for some people in the town, a councillor has claimed.
Members of South Lakeland local area planning committee for Westmorland and Furness Council are recommended to green light plans to amend a section of the previously approved flood defence scheme on the western side of the riverbank of the River Kent.
According to planning documents the Environment Agency submitted an amended scheme including stone walls due to ‘emerging technical design difficulties’ following the receipt of additional topographical data.
However, the amended proposals were deferred by the committee in May to allow more time to hear from the EA on how they explored different options and reached the decision to go with the proposed wall.
Documents submitted by EA say the plans have been through a ‘lengthy and robust’ optioneering process and add the proposals demonstrate ‘best value for money’.
In response to the plans, Councillor Matt Severn (Kendal Highgate, Lib Dems) raised concerns over the proposed solid stone walls, which he said would ‘reduce visibility’ into New Road Common.
Cllr Severn said: “I fear that the proposals as they stand would make New Road a no go area for some people as they would feel unsafe, and would be worried about harassment as they are no longer visible when exercising across the Common.
“The shielding of the Common from view would potentially enable antisocial behaviour, littering, graffiti and consumption of antisocial substances and could leave the Common an unloved space unused by most citizens.”
Objecting to the plans Councillor Shirley Evans (Kendal Nether, Lib Dems) previously stated the proposals were ‘unacceptable’ and called on the Environment Agency to use glass panel walls instead of the proposed solid wall to maintain the views.
Richard Knight, flood risk manager for Cumbria for the Environment Agency told the committee in May the use of glass in the scheme would add in the region of £750,000 in ‘additional unfunded cost’ and delay construction by a year.
Mr Knight added: “The road safety audit recently undertaken demonstrates that to ensure public safety both for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicular, the introduction of glass so close to the road could require protection in the form of bollards or vehicle restraint systems. This could require the proposed wall to be set back even further into the common.
“This would reduce the openness to and from the common and could reduce the aesthetic value of the glass panels compromising their ability to provide open views in and out of the common.”
Plans for flood defences at this site were previously approved in 2019 but the new proposed development is considered ‘preferable’ as it is ‘technically feasible’ and provides a level of flood resilience while maintaining the openness of and access to New Road Common, documents submitted by the Environment Agency state.
According to planning documents the previously approved scheme can act as a ‘fallback option’.
Proposals include a shorter 148-metre-long flood wall compared to the previously proposed 189 metre wall which will not impede access to New Road Common.
The proposed wall will also have a maximum height of 1.64 metres which is 10cm higher than the maximum height in the previously approved scheme, according to a report prepared for the committee.
Mr Knight also told the committee the proposed works on New Road are a ‘critical component’ of this overall consented scheme and will reduce flood risk for approximately 383 homes and businesses.
Planning officers have recommended approval to the amended scheme and a report prepared for the committee concludes: “The public benefits in this case are significant; minimising flood risk in Kendal remains a key objective of the development plan and, to that end, the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme has already received planning permission and work is well advanced. The completion of the defences in Reach F3 is critical to the overall integrity of the scheme.”
However, the conclusion adds: “The effect of the proposals on the broader amenity of the area is also an issue, with the defences likely to make New Road Common feel less safe, if not actually.”
Plans also include the construction of flood gates at the end of New Road next to Gooseholme Footbridge and at the pedestrian crossing between New Road and Blackhall Road. The floodgates have been designed to stop water running onto New Road and beyond during a flood.
Other proposals include the reprofiling of the slipway by replacing the existing gravel covered slipway with stone pitching to mirror the riverbank through much of Kendal and new surface water drainage will be constructed to allow for the discharge of water into the river, via an outfall flap to be installed on the dry side of the defences.
To enable construction, a single lane closure on New Road would be required for the entire construction period, causing disruption to traffic.
The working area would also result in the closure of New Road Common in its entirety however planning documents say the disruption is no more ‘substantial’ than the consented scheme.
Members of South Lakeland local area planning committee are recommended to approve the plans when they meet on September 12 at Kendal Town Hall.
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