TOWN leaders in Grange-over-Sands are demanding to know who will be responsible for closing the floodgates in a new underpass planned for the town.

Members of the town council said that the issue of who would shut the gates in the event of a flood was a vital one, and they would be seeking more information.

The councillors were debating the issue after South Lakeland District Council approved plans for the pedestrian underpass under the railway leading from the Main Street car park to the promenade.

It would allow the closure of the pedestrian crossing in Bayley Lane.

SLDC planning officers had said that the Network Rail plan would remove the potentially dangerous railway crossing and provide a highly visible gateway from the town to the promenade, as well as an opportunity to seek a solution to the town's flooding problems.

However, the town council has sent a letter to SLDC pointing out several potential problems.

They said that the present railway embankment provided the town with some protection from tidal flooding, and that breaching it with an underpass provided a potential conduit for flood waters.

They pointed out that the top of the proposed flood gates was lower than the top of the embankment, and questioned why it was acceptable to have a lower level of protection than currently existed.

After hearing that plans had been passed, subject to agreement over the floodgates and other issues, Grange councillors stressed that they were still unhappy with some aspects of the scheme.

Coun Bill Wearing said: "We need to know whatever year it (flooding) is going to happen, whether South Lakeland is going to be responsible or Network Rail.

e need to know who's going to close the gates."

Members agreed to wait for written notification of the decision before debating how to respond.

l Flash flooding in the town centre could be difficult to solve, councillors heard. Heavy rains in August had caused some flooding in parts of Kents Bank Road and Albert Road. Coun Bill Wearing told the meeting that because there was a shared surface water and foul water system in Main Street, it could be complicated to try to increase capacity. However, the gullies would be cleaned out, he said.

l Councillors are also waiting to hear when SLDC's cabinet will discuss the funding for a feasibility study into solutions to flooding in the town's Windermere Road. It had been expected to be on the agenda this week but members were told there could be a delay. However, a decision was hoped for in the next fortnight.