Work begins on £36m flood scheme

Floods last January affected more than 2,000 homes and businesses

The first of two flood defence projects to protect Carlisle begins on Tuesday.

Existing embankments on the rivers Eden and Petteril will be widened and raised. The work, by the Environment Agency, will cost £12m.

A second phase, the £24m Carlisle and Caldew City scheme, is due to begin in 2008 and will be completed by 2010.

Last January parts of the city were devastated by flooding, with the cost of damage to thousands of homes and businesses estimated at £250m.

Also on Tuesday, United Utilities is to announce a £30m plan to upgrade the city's water and sewerage system.

Reduce risk

This will take up to three years to complete, and is designed to complement the river-flood defence work.

Following the January floods, a board was created comprising the Environment Agency, Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, United Utilities and English Nature.

The Environment Agency was also part of the Carlisle Renaissance Task Group that helped to devise plans for the regeneration of the city.

Glyn Vaughan, chairman of the board, said: "We decided to set up a project board with our partner organisations so we could adopt a fully integrated approach to solving Carlisle's drainage problems."

He added: "Carlisle suffers from flooding not only due to rivers but also due to sewers and surface water so the only way we can significantly reduce the risk of flooding in the city is to work together."