SOUTH Lakeland District Council bosses are to press ahead with a controversial business park development on a flood plain despite the recent flooding of more than 30 homes nearby.

Economic prosperity portfolio holder Graham Vincent said the council still wanted to sell its land on North Lonsdale Road, at Ulverston, to developers to build business premises.

Many people who live around the North Lonsdale Road site objected to the scheme on the grounds of increased traffic and flood risk. Now following the floods, homeowners want the plan scrapped.

Suzie Lawson, 26, a healthcare assistant who lives in Steel Street has seen the ground-floor flooring of her home ruined.

“The land they are proposing building on, floods every year,” she said.

“We are absolutely horrified the council is saying that it will be okay to build on that land. The water would have nowhere to go and we have Victorian drains.

All they are going to do is build an industrial estate, which will definitely flood.

“I think it is appalling and unnecessary. I cannot believe they won’t listen to us,” she said.

Coun Vincent defended SLDC’s proposals.

He stressed the economic need for business premises adding: “No development will be undertaken until they satisfy any risk of flooding highlighted by the Environment Agency.”