PLANS for an ‘integral’ part of the Kendal flood defence scheme have been given the go-ahead.

Members of South Lakeland local area planning committee for Westmorland and Furness Council gave the green light plans to amend a section of the previously approved flood defence scheme on the western side of the riverbank of the River Kent.

According to planning documents, the Environment Agency submitted an amended scheme including stone walls due to ‘emerging technical design difficulties’ following the receipt of additional topographical data.

However, the committee deferred the amended proposals in May to allow more time to hear from the EA on how they explored different options and decided to go with the proposed wall.

Documents submitted by EA say the plans have been through a ‘lengthy and robust’ optioneering process and add the proposals demonstrate ‘best value for money’.

Richard Knight, flood risk manager for Cumbria for the Environment Agency, told the committee the plans are technically feasible, provide ‘best value for money’ and do not impact on highway safety.

Mr Knight said: “The public benefits of the proposed development remain including an integral contribution to a wider consented scheme of flood resilience.”

He  said  the decision to defer the application in May had caused ‘significant delays’ and ‘additional expenditure’ of public money.

However, Kendal Town councillor Craig Russell called on the committee to reject the application so the EA and Kendal Town Council can agree on the ‘best solution’ for the town. He also warned the proposed scheme would ‘sever’ the conservation area.

Cllr Russell added: “Kendal requires the best flood defences that will not compromise the heritage and natural beauty of our town.”

In response to the plans, Councillor Matt Severn (Kendal Highgate, Lib Dems) raised concerns over the proposed solid stone walls, which he said would ‘reduce visibility’ into New Road Common.

Cllr Severn said: “I fear that the proposals as they stand would make New Road a no go area for some people as they would feel unsafe, and would be worried about harassment as they are no longer visible when exercising across the Common.

“The shielding of the Common from view would potentially enable antisocial behaviour, littering, graffiti and consumption of antisocial substances and could leave the Common an unloved space unused by most citizens.”

Objecting to the plans Councillor Shirley Evans (Kendal Nether, Lib Dems) previously said the proposals were ‘unacceptable’ and called on the Environment Agency to use glass panel walls instead of the proposed solid wall to maintain the views.

Mr Knight told the committee in May the use of glass in the scheme would add in the region of £750,000 in ‘additional unfunded cost’ and delay construction by a year.

He added: “The road safety audit recently undertaken demonstrates that to ensure public safety both for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicular, the introduction of glass so close to the road could require protection in the form of bollards or vehicle restraint systems. This could require the proposed wall to be set back even further into the common.

“This would reduce the openness to and from the common and could reduce the aesthetic value of the glass panels compromising their ability to provide open views in and out of the common.”

Councillor Helen Chaffey told the committee ‘there doesn’t appear to be a better option on the table’ and added: “For me, always, minimising the flood risk and moving forward as quickly as possible is paramount.”

Plans for flood defences at this site were previously approved in 2019 but the new proposed development is considered ‘preferable’ as it is ‘technically feasible’ and provides a level of flood resilience while maintaining the openness of and access to New Road Common, documents submitted by the Environment Agency state.

According to planning documents the previously approved scheme can act as a ‘fallback option’.

Proposals include a shorter 148-metre-long flood wall compared to the previously proposed 189 metre wall which will not impede access to New Road Common.

The proposed wall will also have a maximum height of 1.64 metres which is 10cm higher than the maximum height in the previously approved scheme, according to a report prepared for the committee.

Plans also include the construction of flood gates at the end of New Road next to Gooseholme Footbridge and at the pedestrian crossing between New Road and Blackhall Road. The floodgates have been designed to stop water running onto New Road and beyond during a flood.

Other proposals include the reprofiling of the slipway by replacing the existing gravel covered slipway with stone pitching to mirror the riverbank through much of Kendal and new surface water drainage will be constructed to allow for the discharge of water into the river, via an outfall flap to be installed on the dry side of the defences.

To enable construction, a single lane closure on New Road would be required for the entire construction period, causing disruption to traffic.

The working area would also result in the closure of New Road Common in its entirety however planning documents say the disruption is no more ‘substantial’ than the consented scheme.

Members of South Lakeland local area planning committee approved the plans when on September 12 at Kendal Town Hall.