WORK is set to get under way on the multi-million pound Kendal flood defences next spring.

The Environment Agency's Cumbria Flood Risk Manager Stewart Mounsey exclusively told The Westmorland Gazette the go ahead had been give to contractors involved in phase one of the huge project, which involves the construction of defensive walls and embankments in the centre of the town.

And he said some work to help protect some high risk properties will be proceeding within the next few weeks.

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Mr Mounsey added that work to plant 3,600 trees was scheduled to begin alongside the main work in spring, and he was keen to stress that while current plans still detailed 500 trees to be removed, the situation with regards to each one of these trees would be carefully examined and if any alternative was available, this would be fully explored.

"We are working with the elected bodies at all stages and we will be open to feedback throughout the process."

In addition, Mr Mounsey announced that a major arts and landscape project would be launched in conjunction with the flood defence work which would see art installations, educational, heritage and fitness trails constructed, and local schools would be directly involved by way of consultation and competitions to design the artwork.

The devastation wrought by Storm Desmond in December 2015 led to the launch of the project, which consists of three phases.

Phases two and three are concerned with linear defences in the Burneside and Staveley areas and the creation of storage facilities upstream of Kendal, but it is phase one which is currently the focus.

The creation of substantial defences along the River Kent in the town has been a cherished aim for many residents traumatised by the ravages of Storm Desmond.

However, there was impassioned opposition to the plans, which centred not only on concerns over the effect of flood walls on the aesthetic appearance of the town but also on the fact that the proposals included the removal of more than 700 trees, many of them mature specimens.

Revised plans took the number of threatened trees down to 500, and Mr Mounsey said while this figure remained in place, careful consideration would be made to each site where tree removal was set to take place with a view to reducing the figure if at all possible.

The phase one plans were passed by South Lakeland District Council's planning committee in March, but there was a delay until confirmation was received that the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Brokenshire would not 'call in’ the plan for examination with a view to a public inquiry, as had been requested by several interested groups.

Mr Mounsey said that the process was now proceeding as quickly as possible, and work was now taking place by both external contractors who are finalising detailed designs and also internally by the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure all contracted work was within the agreed parameters.

He told the Gazette work such as kerb improvements and redirecting surface flow would be carried out in the coming weeks in order to immediately increase protection for a small number of properties which were at particularly high risk from further flooding.

And he went on to detail the arts and landscape project which it is hoped will augment the flood defence scheme in Kendal.

"We want it to be more than just a flood defence scheme," said Mr Mounsey.

"We hope to put sculptures in place and other art installations that will reflect the rich heritage of the town."

He said it was hoped to involve the town's schools with the designs in the form of competitions, and that the children of Kendal would be able to learn about the town by using the trails.

"We hope they can use it as an open classroom and we also hope to involve the local community as much as possible in producing the art work."

Mr Mounsey reiterated that the EA was open to feedback at all stages and he added that full details of all the plans and updates on the progress made would be available for viewing at the Fell Tarn Shop on the first floor of the Westmorland Shopping Centre from September onwards.