CHANGES are proposed to a flood storage area so that Environment Agency staff can maintain the important flood defence.

Copeland Borough Council has received an application for planning permission to create two vehicle access points at Upper and Lower Whangs Beck in Egremont.

The changes are necessary so that Environment Agency staff can properly maintain the Whangs Beck Flood Storage area.

A Flood Storage Area acts like a balancing reservoir to avert harm to nearby properties during heavy rainfall events.

READ MORE: Egremont flood defence 'on track' for completion, says Environment Agency

Maintenance to the Flood Storage Area could include debris clearance or maintenance of the measurement equipment, allowing the flood defence works to operate safely.

The applicant said: “The new accesses would also allow for quick mobilisation should this be needed during a flood event. It is estimated that the accesses will be used two or three times per normal year.”

The reservoir is one of four proposed under the Egremont Flood Risk Management Scheme along with storage areas at Skirting Beck, How Bank, West Lakes Academy and the Falcon Club.

The Flood Risk Management Scheme is on-track to be complete by the Autumn.

If needed during flood events, each facility will be capable of holding a volume of water equivalent to 21 and a half Olympic swimming pools.

In supporting statements, the agent said: “Skirting Beck and Whangs Beck are two small watercourses that flow through the town of Egremont, Cumbria and the area has a long history of flooding.

“With no formal defences in place, there was an urgent need to create new flood defence infrastructure and improve existing assets to reduce flood risk.”

The applicant does not expect the development to have an ecological impact.

“The site is not covered by any international or national ecological designations, nor is the land part of a nationally protected landscape.”

The public can view and comment on all planning applications submitted to Copeland Borough Council.

To view applications submitted for approval, visit: https://www.copeland.gov.uk/planning