City MP marks flood anniversary

More than 3,000 homes and businesses were damaged in 2005

On the third anniversary of Carlisle's worst floods, the city's MP believes new defences will prevent a repeat.

Three people died when houses were deluged by up to 18ft of water when the River Eden burst its banks.

The first stage of a £36m scheme to protect the area from flooding is almost complete.

MP Eric Martlew said the Environment Agency had told him when the new defences were completed Carlisle would be the best defended city in the UK.

'Built much higher'

He added: "Having been flooded, when it rains hard you're worried.

"The people who have been flooded will always have that fear in the back of their minds.

"But the one advantage is that the flood defences that were to be built have now been built much higher."

The Environment Agency's Eden and Petteril defence scheme, covering Warwick Road and Botcherby, is due to finish ahead of schedule in Spring 2008.

The second part of the agency's works, the Caldew and Carlisle city centre scheme, is currently going through a detailed design process.

Construction is due to start on site in Spring 2008 and the scheme is planned to be completed in 2010.