Plan for flood defence work at Kendal's Gooseholme Park criticised

The Environment Agency (EA) project at Gooseholme includes a new pumping station, floodgates and flood walls. 

But the Open Spaces Society (OSS) and Friends of the Lake District (FoLD) are arguing the work will have a 'severely detrimental' effect on the parcel of common land. 

Ian Brodie, of OSS, said a plan should have been formed that did not involve taking up part of the existing park.

He said OSS and FoLD 'deplore' the 'serious loss of green space and the resulting physical separation of people from the riverbank'.

"We believe this is a serious loss to the town’s cultural and historic heritage, particularly its connections with the traditional woollen industry," he said.

"Instead of an impressive open landscape, we shall have small, contained spaces with a great deal of concrete.

"It is regrettable that Historic England did not help to prevent the loss of this historic landscape."

The EA has previously said, however, that the proposed area of hardstanding will take up 'just three per cent of the overall common area'.

And the organisation has also hit back at the criticism from OSS and FoLD, arguing the 'character and heritage of Kendal town centre' played a 'key role' in developing the proposals.

"While the planning inspector did recognise the work at Gooseholme Park would have some impacts on the common, she considered these were outweighed by the public benefit," said an EA spokesman.

"We understand the balance between ensuring the town is protected from the devastation of flooding while also maintaining public facilities and access to nature, which is why the improved design and landscape plans were shaped by feedback from the community."

The spokesman said the EA was 'committed' to ensuring the community was updated and involved in the Kendal flood scheme as it progressed. 

The works were put to the Planning Inspectorate because they relate to common land.