Local authorities, the Environment Agency and community planning groups will come together under a new Cumbrian Floods Partnership to consider what improvements are needed to the region’s defences.
Announced by environment secretary Elizabeth Truss today, the partnership will look at upstream options for slowing key rivers to reduce the intensity of water flows at peak times and build better links between local residents and flood defence planning groups.
Chaired by floods minister Rory Stewart, the group will publish a Cumbria Action Plan next summer. Stewart will also be taking on a special Floods Envoy role across Cumbria and Lancashire, the two worst-affected regions, to coordinate the flood recovery operations over the coming months.