by Julie Morgan

Last updated at 12:10, Thursday, 20 December 2012

THE cost of protecting Egremont from future flooding could reach £3 million.

Copeland Council leader Elaine Woodburn said this was the bill facing authorities after the devastating floods of August and October.

Exceptionally heavy rains resulted in a raging River Ehen which wrecked homes and saw the back of a four-storey building fall into the river.

Coun Woodburn said the Government would have to be lobbied for funding as Copeland, already forced to make cuts of £2.6million, would be unable to meet the costs.

Many families will not be back in their homes for Christmas.

Yesterday, another drop-in session was held at the Falcon Club, Egremont for those residents who were flooded on the Orgill Estate. It offered access to welfare support and advice.

The Environment Agency said it is to study flood risk along the River Ehen and is working with Copeland Council and Cumbria County Council in the wake of the flooding.

Funding has been secured by the Agency to conduct a study of flood risk from the River Ehen to investigate flooding from other sources.

It says the results will identify a range of measures that can be put in place to reduce the risk of future flooding.

Pat Graham, Copeland’s director of services, who has led the flood recovery co-ordination group, said: “We recognise that people now are keen to understand both why the flooding occurred, and more importantly, what can be done to stop it happening again.

“This has been a challenging process, and there is still much to be done, but we are now in a position where we will be able to answer some of people’s important questions relating to the Orgill estate, and we want to do that.”

First published at 11:23, Thursday, 20 December 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk