1. Border
  2. 14 updates

Storm Desmond floods: Six months on

Six months on from December's Storm Desmond, we take a look at how the affected communities are recovering, and what still needs to be done to protect properties in the future.

Live updates

Flood repairs in Borders likely to hit £4m

The cost of flood repairs in the Scottish Borders is likely to hit £4million Credit: ITV Border
£4m
is the likely cost of flood repairs in the Scottish Borders

The full extent of the repair work won't be completed until the Autumn. More than two thirds of around 300 repairs are fixed, but some major works are still outstanding.

We have damage through flooding, obviously one off storms. But the actual number of storms we've suffered, five storms all together, it's just been unprecedented.'

– Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council

Advertisement

Farron slams '£40 million floods shortfall'

Flooding in Kendal. Credit: ITV Border

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has slammed a "£40 million shortfall" in cash needed to help the county recover from the floods of December's storms.

Six months ago Storm Desmond left thousands of homes and businesses in his Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency underwater.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats says there is still plenty of work needed.

Although in many ways Cumbria is back to normal – the A591 is fixed and most businesses have now reopened – we must not forget about those still affected.

There are still many residents out of their homes, and many more who are affected by road and bridge closures. It is unjustifiable that the government has still not committed to providing all of the funding needed to repair the flood damage – across the county there is a £40million shortfall.

The government also failed to provide additional funds to support businesses affected by flooding after the initial pot ran out.

– Tim Farron MP

Advertisement

Dredging discussed at Cockermouth floods meeting

Cockermouth flooded last December. Credit: ITV Border

Dredging is being considered as a short-term measure to reduce the risk of flooding in Cockermouth.

Six months ago the town's defences were overtopped during the floods of Storm Desmond.

Last night, 150 people packed into Christ Church in the town for a public meeting to discuss a Flood Investigation Report put together by the Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council.

We are reviewing the levels where we trigger that action so that may result in us carrying out more dredging than we have done but at this point it's too early to tell.

What I can can say for sure is that before the end of the month we'll be in the river removing the build up of excess gravel that is there currently.

– Andy Brown, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager

Eden Flood Volunteers pledge to continue support

The group say it's only a matter of time before Cumbria floods again. Credit: ITV Border

Eden Flood Volunteers have pledged to continue supporting families affected by flooding, six months after the group was formed in the wake of Storm Desmond.

Kerryanne Wilde set up the group. She says because of the threat of future floods, they will always be needed.

We're here for good. We're not going away. It's not if we flood again, it's when we flood again, but this time we will already be prepared. We will know what needs to happen.

– Kerryanne Wilde, Eden Flood Volunteers
Load more updates Back to top

Latest ITV News reports