DCT to fit Carlisle anti-flood pipes

DCT Civil Engineering has been awarded a £3.35m contract by United Utilities to install flood alleviation sewers in Carlisle.

The city was badly damaged by flooding in January 2005 and although improvements have been carried out it remains vulnerable to flooding.

United Utilities is currently expanding the Victorian sewer network and replacing 3km of pipes as part of a multi-agency bid to reduce the risk of flooding in the city.

In January 2005 the equivalent of two months' rain fell in 24 hours and flooded more than 3,000 homes and other buildings. The work on the sewer network is one of a number of flood alleviation measures being carried out by agencies across the city.

Carlisle City Council and regional partners used the flooding as a trigger to start regenerating the city centre, but progress drawing up a development programme has been slow. Carlisle Renaissance, the resultant quango created to supervise the regeneration plans was only recently formalised and is yet to select its first development partners.