Cockermouth Flood Action Group

The Cockermouth Flood Action Group was set up in response to the 2005 floods and has been working with the agencies responsible for flood prevention in the local area to achieve reductions to the flood risk in the area. Before the floods of 2009 the group had worked with the Environment Agency to build flood defenses for the Waterloo Street area of Cockermouth.

Since the devastating floods of November 19th 2009 the group has been proactive. The group has held several public and committee meetings and has grown significantly in membership. The group now includes residents that have and have not been flooded, representatives from the business and farming community and retired and non retired professionals. All members share the same vision and that is to ensure a speedy recovery not only of Cockermouth but also the wider community of the county and to establish if a similar future catastrophe can be prevented.

It has been well documented that this event was a possible 1:1000 year occurrence however the town has experienced localised flooding in Gote Road, Waterloo Street and High Sands Lane in 2005, 2008 and 2009. Gote Road remains the most vulnerable area for flooding. The group has been in discussions with the Environment agency, Natural England, United Utilities and the local authorities since its commencement in 2005, it intends to continue these discussions to ensure everything that can be done will be done to protect these areas.

The group believes that the recovery and prevention of further flooding will only occur if it continues to makes representations to the Environment Agency, Natural England and United Utilities and to work with the local authorities constructively and with a positively challenging attitude. The hope of the group for the future is that the aforementioned agencies do everything in their power to prevent further flooding. It hopes to maintain good relations with the agencies. The group also welcomes central governments continuing commitment to the recovery of the town through adequate funding.
The aims of the group are:

• To ensure a speedy recovery, not only of Cockermouth, but also the wider community of the County.
• To establish if a similar future catastrophe can be prevented.

The group’s committee has formed 4 sub-groups to help achieve these aims they are:

• Technical /Engineering
• PR/Communications
• Legal, Research and Documentation
• Funding & Financial

If you would like to contact the group please feel free to contact us using the contact form, thank you.

Information about Cockermouth, local events and attractions can be found at Cockermouth.org.uk