WORK on a flood relief scheme for a residential road that has been left under water twice in 20 months is unlikely to start until the next decade.

The Environment Agency (EA) has told flood-weary residents of Windermere Road, in Grange-over-Sands, that a scheme would not be considered until after 2010.

The warning of a long delay was made at a behind-closed-doors meeting organised by Grange Town Council, which brought together residents, EA, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council to thrash out a course of action to prevent a repeat of floods last month and in February 2004.

In October, around 12 homes and businesses were left under four inches of water following heavy downpours in what has been described as the worst flood to hit the road in more than two decades.

The outcome of the debate was discussed at Grange Town Council on Monday, although two councillors had to leave the room because they lived or had an interest in properties on the road.

The meeting resolved that: South Lakeland District Council and the Environment Agency would work together to provide new trash screens for drainage pipes.

SLDC would put pressure on United Utilities to remove an obstruction from a culvert at the bottom of the road.

Cumbria County Council would explore the possibility of constructing a new drain to divert water into the nearby Ornamental Duck Pond.

SLDC would explore taking enforcement action against a landowner to improve drainage in a field from which floodwater escapes into Windermere Road.

The resolutions have been welcomed by the Windermere Road Flood Action Group, whose chairman John Smith thanked the town council for staging the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, SLDC's environment manager Mark Richardson said action resolved at the meeting would alleviate but not solve the problem of flooding.

He estimates that a flood relief scheme for the road would cost in the region of £1 million.

As previously reported in the Gazette, there is fresh optimism that an underpass to be built on Grange's promenade next year during the closure of the Furness Railway line could help to alleviate the problem.

But SLDC said there were no plans to connect culverts in Windermere Road to the underpass, allowing the water to drain out to sea, for the foreseeable future.