Appleby’s Broad Close car park could close for a full year while construction of a new pumping station as part of flood defence measures for the town takes place, a meeting of Eden Council’s executive was told.
In order to make the project financially viable, the Environment Agency has asked the district authority to waive any compensation for a number of items — including occupying the whole car park for a year — which will impact on the season-ticket holders and parking tariffs.
There is set to be a total loss to Eden Council coffers of about £20,000, which is made up of £3,000 from season tickets and £17,000 from parking ticket income.
In addition, the Environment Agency is asking the district council for £113,000 towards the cost of building an electricity sub-station to support electric vehicle charging points.
While the work is being undertaken, the recycling facility at Broad Close is to be relocated to an alternative temporary location which is yet to be confirmed, the meeting was told.
Following Storm Desmond in 2015, the Environment Agency has considered a range of options to cut flood risk in Appleby.
The new pumping station scheme is focused around frequent flooding west of Appleby’s town centre in Holme Street and Chapel Street caused by problems with the Doomgate culvert.
“Failure to support this scheme may result in the flood prevention plans being abandoned,” councillors were told in a report.
It was agreed that the recommendation from executive to full council would be to endorse a spend of £113,000 towards the installation of an electricity substation to support electric vehicle charging points and for Eden to provide a £20,000 in kind contribution to the scheme by agreeing not to ask for any loss of earnings from both the temporary and permanent changes to the Broad Close car park.
