Flimby’s £1.7m flood defences complete

Cubby Construction built the Flimby Flood Alleviation Scheme, which involved key works to divert the Cat Gill watercourse to Bragg Beck, the construction of a formal embankment, as well as the implementation of 30 leaky dams with other Natural Flood Management measures.

Cumberland Council announced the installation of surface water drainage systems in residential areas, while the reconstruction and remediation of existing culverts, headwalls, and floodgates have also been completed.

The coastal Cumbrian town was devasted by floods in 2015 after Storm Desmond flooded at least 100 homes in the area.

A report from the Environment Agency suggested that one in four properties in England will be at risk from flooding by 2050, equating to around 8m homes.

According to the report, there are 34,900 properties in the North West at high flood risk, contributing to roughly 9.5% of national properties with a high flood risk.

The flood defence project was funded through a £1.7m bid to the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant and Defra.

Cubby Construction began work on the defences in August 2023, practical completion was reached by March 2024.

The scheme brings the area’s flood protection to a 1.33% Annual Exceedance Probability standard for 49 properties, simultaneously reducing risk for many more.

Cllr Denise Rollo, executive member for sustainable, resilient, and connected places, said: “The council’s investment, alongside partners, into flood alleviation projects is essential to provide the best protection for our communities and to avoid the devastation that flooding can bring to people’s lives, their homes, and their families.

“I would like to thank … all involved in the various projects around Cumberland to ensure communities are confident in having the best protection against flood risk possible.”