Cumbria lines up £40m flood defences, £1.5m water main upgrades

Cumberland Council has secured funding for a flood risk management programme for Millom and Haverigg. Meanwhile, United Utilities is readying improvements to the water infrastructure in Ulverston and Windermere.

Millom and Haverigg

The Environment Agency has agreed to provide £40m Cumberland Council for flood risk management in Millom and Haverigg through its Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Capital Grant. Adding to the pot: financial support from a local levy and United Utilities.

Cumberland Council Leader Cllr Mark Fryer said the funding award was “one of the largest” received by the council for the area.

“It will make a massive difference for local people and businesses once the scheme is complete,” he continued.

Cllr Bob Kelly, the executive member for environment and planning, added: “Securing this funding means we can deliver a scheme that will protect hundreds of homes and businesses from the devastating impact of flooding.

“It’s not just about reducing risk, it’s about giving our communities peace of mind, protecting vital infrastructure, and creating a safer, more resilient future.”

Windermere

More than half a mile of water mains in Windermere will be replaced as part of a £500,000 project from United Utilities. The work on the mains, which are situated on either side of Lake Road between St Herbert’s Church and Beresford Road, will take 12 weeks to complete, according to the company. It has recruited M Group as the main contractor for the scheme.

Paul Forshaw, United Utilities’ county business lead for water in Cumbria, said: “This new pipeline is built to last for more than 100 years and because they are more durable and flexible, they can withstand greater fluctuations in pressure and temperature and are less prone to burst, especially in the winter weather we have seen at the start of this year.”

Ulverston

Over in Ulverston, more than a mile of water mains will be replaced with newer models that will hopefully reduce leaks and bursts. The project, which has a £1m price tag, will take place over three months in Lowick. M-Group is the main contractor.

Both the Ulverston and Windermere projects are part of United Utilities £380m programme to upgrade more than 574 miles of water mains in the North West over the next five years. Cumbria is home to 124 miles of water mains that will be upgraded.

As work in Ulverston and Windermere commences, United Utilities announced that it is looking to bring on more than a dozen apprentices in the county. These apprenticeships will last between 18 months and six years. Applications due by end the month.