Months of disruption as key work takes place to protect Appleby from future flooding could “kill the town”, it was claimed this week.
A multi-million pound Environment Agency scheme to build a pumping station and create a new River Eden outfall to deal with excessive water flow was approved last year.
It is part of ongoing Appleby flood risk management scheme (FRMS) work which aims to better protect scores of homes and businesses which have been repeatedly deluged over the past two decades.
Much delayed due to COVID, along with technical and funding issues, the project was finally due to start last September. It is now set to begin this summer and take 20 months — far exceeding an original three-month estimate.
In the meantime another planning application, seeking consent for a temporary compound of office and canteen facilities for construction site workers, on land next to the town leisure centre, has been lodged with Eden Council.
Awareness of this latest proposal has brought the pumping station scheme into sharper focus for residents and traders, who on Tuesday aired major fears about the fallout of the planned work.
During construction, Broad Close car park, which has around 100 spaces, will close completely. Traffic management measures will also be in force.
Traders already upset over a perceived lack of scheme progress updates worry these measures will have a dire ongoing economic impact, reducing the footfall of shoppers and visitors to town businesses and leisure facilities. Discussions are also being sought regarding emergency vehicle access.
Ernie Brabbins, chairman of nearby Appleby Cricket Club, was present at Tuesday’s meeting. “The main question has to be: do the ends justify the means? The whole thing is detrimental to Appleby surviving,” he said.
Traders have posed questions for Environment Agency staff who will provide town councillors with an update this Thursday.
A traders’ spokesman said there was “100 per cent agreement in our approach to the issue” and
it was “reassuring” that “we are all speaking as one”.
“When we are reassured that our voices are heard and acted upon appropriately, we can then confidently move forward with our exciting plans for the future of Appleby,” she said.
“We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to.”
Town mayor Gareth Hayes told the Herald: “The sad irony and deep reality is that the Environment Agency think they’re coming to save Appleby yet the growing and common feeling is that their project in its current form is going to kill the town.”
An Environment Agency spokesman said work with partners was continuing to deliver the FRMS and manage the impact of a works programme now lasting 20 months due to “constraints of space within the town”.
“Many of the construction activities cannot be undertaken at the same time, which means they have to be done in sequence.
“This makes the programme longer and increases cost. By having a longer programme of works this will reduce disruption to the community,” said the spokesman.
“By extending the programme we do not require any businesses or sports facilities to close, however there will be times when access is disrupted, and car parks closed.
“We are doing everything possible to keep the disruption to traffic to a minimum, but the nature of the roads and limited space in Appleby means that some closures will unfortunately be unavoidable.
“We will, however, keep our programme of works under constant review and where possible look to minimise any disruption to the community.
“We are currently planning future engagement with the community and will update on the timings in due course.”
