Last updated at 19:59, Thursday, 12 July 2012

A plaque has been unveiled to commemorate Cockermouth’s £700,000 award-winning flood defences.

FLOOD DEFENCE PLAQUE: From left: Keith Roddy, of the Environment Agency, Mike Apperley, of Cockermouth Flood Action Group, with Richard Coackley and Scott Christian, of the Institution of Civil Engineers

It was unveiled yesterday at The Trout Hotel by the North West Institution of Civil Engineers to mark work done by the town’s flood action group and the Environment Agency to protect the Gote Road area.

Richard Coackley, institution president, said close co-operation between the Environment Agency and Cockermouth Flood Action Group showed what could be achieved.

They had delivered a “first-rate project” that had changed lives for the better, he said.

In the past five years the Gote Road area has suffered flooding three times. The flood alleviation project now protects 42 houses.

The action group secured long-term loan ownership and maintenance agreements for a new pumping station.

Members also helped to design and supervise the work with the agency.

The scheme also helps to safeguard the River Derwent’s habitat, making it a site of specific scientific interest.

Earlier this year the flood alleviation scheme also won the institution’s community project award.

• Work to install a self-closing flood barrier in Cockermouth is due to begin in September. The barrier is the first of its kind in the UK and will be installed on the River Cocker at Rubbybanks Road.

It will rise with the river and close when it reaches a certain height to prevent flooding.

Work is going on to create the barrier’s concrete foundations.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk