EXTRA government help could make it easier to push through a long-awaited flood relief scheme for Kendal.

South Lakeland District Council chiefs are investigating an offer from the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which would allow the council to borrow money to pay for the Stock Beck flood relief scheme.

Stock Beck, which includes a flood storage reservoir, is designed to prevent a repeat of flooding which devastated houses in parts of Lowther Park, Silverdale Drive, and a small area of Calder Drive in January 1999.

SLDC director of finance Jack Jones said the council had known for a long time that a MAFF grant could be available to help pay for part of the scheme - which is expected to cost more than £1 million - provided it met the ministry's criteria.

Mr Jones said MAFF was also offering credit approval to local authorities to help fund the outstanding balance of schemes which had received a grant.

If the Stock Beck scheme met with MAFF's approval, SLDC finance chiefs would be able to borrow cash, and spread the cost.

MAFF would also give the council a grant to help with the borrowing costs.

Coun John Studholme told an environmental services committee meeting that it was vital to examine the funding opportunities.

"It's such a significant change and will have such an effect upon our budget in terms of capital schemes, that we must investigate this as a matter of urgency to be absolutely sure there are no gremlins in the system that are going to close off that course, because the Stock Beck scheme is number one priority as far as the capital budget is concerned," he said.

Committee members agreed with Coun Studholme's suggestion.

The council has been pursuing a compulsory purchase order to obtain the field north of Sedbergh Road, which is required for the flood storage reservoir, because negotiations to buy it proved unsuccessful.

The land is designated open space in the local plan.

The process of applying for a CPO is expected to delay the scheme and SLDC officers have confirmed they met the landowners to discuss "a way to solve the situation."

Acting director of environmental services Mark Richardson said one element discussed was the possibility of allowing housing on part of the land.

But he added: "We did not get any proposals that were acceptable as far as the council was concerned."

SLDC chiefs have never disclosed the identity of the land owners because they regard the information as private.

HM Land Registry has confirmed the land is owned by Margaret Kelly Ward and Charles Stewart.

l Members of the environmental services committee also agreed to suspend, for 12 months, the help officers give to deal with flooding on domestic gardens, pathways, roads, and agricultural, commercial and industrial land, providing there would not be internal flooding of domestic, commercial or industrial premises as a result.

Mr Richardson said this was because the council received many more requests than it could deal with, and public expectations were not being met.

Because of the council's financial difficulties, it was unlikely he would get more resources, he said.