Kendal residents 'still feel very vulnerable' to winter floods

People 'still feel vulnerable' to winter floods Image source, Lis Dales Image caption, Castle Crescent in Kendal was left underwater after Storm Desmond in 2015 By Ben Winship North East and Cumbria Published 6 hours ago 1 Comments The founder of a flood action group has said people "still feel very vulnerable" to flooding despite work to strengthen defences nearly 11 years after Storm Desmond. Lis Dales, from Castle Street Community Flood Action Group in Kendal, said the town was "so far behind where we need to be to give us a reasonable level of security". Work on the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme began in 2021 and was due to finish in 2025, but the town centre section is now expected to be finished in 2028. The Environment Agency (EA) said town centre defences were 70% complete and the majority of flood gates and new pumps were ready should they be needed this winter. The flood risk management scheme is now expected to cost £130m - almost double the original figure of £76m. Dales helped establish the group after her home flooded during Storm Desmond in 2015. She said the water came up to her waist and people were kept out of their homes for nine to 12 months. Dales believes in their current form, Kendal's defences would provide "minimal additional protection" and leave residents like her vulnerable. "We are nearly 11 years on [from Storm Desmond], I'm 11 years older, and I can't put up my floodgates by myself now - so I would need volunteers to come and help me," she said. The EA has been approached for further comment, but previously said homes and businesses would already benefit from a higher level of protection this winter due to the progress made so far. 'Owned' by residents Alongside flood defences, work has been done elsewhere in Cumbria to make sure people are prepared for potential flooding. In Carlisle, Botcherby Community Centre has been working with the EA and local councils to develop the Carlisle Community Resilience Plan, which aims to coordinate a city-wide approach to cope with emergencies. "The plan is bringing together all that positive stuff that happens anyway," said Botcherby Community Centre worker Niall McNulty. "It's just getting a structure around it and adding a few more resources and maybe naming some of the places that we feel are safe places to go to." Image caption, Botcherby Community Centre worker Niall McNulty said it is important residents have a say on emergency plans Carlisle residents were asked how they would respond to a flood to help shape the project. McNulty said: "It's the community that responds first and partly that's because it's the community that often gets impacted first. "It's got to be something that's owned by people who actually live and breathe some of this stuff when it comes to responding to future shocks." Follow BBC Cumbria on X , external , Facebook , external , Nextdoor and Instagram , external and listen to Radio Cumbria on BBC Sounds. Get in touch Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Cumbria? Contact form Contact form Related topics Floods Flood defences Environment Agency Kendal Carlisle Cumbria Related stories Severe weather threat renews town's flood concerns Published 11 September Related internet links Environment Agency