Cockermouth and District Civic Trust met with the Environment Agency (EA) on July 15 to hear about their plans for the river.
Volunteers of the charity heard that the EA’s priority is currently to strengthen the flood defences between Cocker Bridge and the meeting point of the Rivers Cocker and Derwent.
The meeting heard reassurance from EA representatives that this is the extent of their interest in the Old Courthouse Building, the restoration of which, is the responsibility of its owner.
A spokesperson for the EA told Newsquest Cumbria that it is “undertaking an investigation” to understand what long-term flood defence provision would be needed for the river.
“We will share these plans as soon as we are able,” they said of the study, funded by £400,000 in Government money.
In the meantime, “the flood risk in Cockermouth is still reduced by temporary defences,” they said.
Temporary flood defences were designed and installed shortly after the initial building collapse in 2023 as debris falling into the river has caused an increase in flood risk.
Measures to prevent the flooding of homes and businesses on a temporary basis involve the use of stop logs, which will be installed as soon as river levels start to rise.
The EA spokesperson said: “The owner of the building remains responsible for securing and stabilising the structure and ensuring that no debris obstructs the river channel.”
A modelling study indicates any further significant collapse of the Old Courthouse building could raise upstream water levels during high flows, increasing flood risk to the town centre.
Markus Campbell-Savours, Member of Parliament for Penrith and Solway said: “I was pleased to see the Environment Agency secure £400,000 from the Government to work on a solution to the flood risk they have identified at the Old Courthouse.
He said: “It’s disappointing that it has taken so long, disappointing that it had required taxpayers’ money to be spent on a privately owned building, but ultimately it is vital that the residents of Cockermouth are not left with the risk of further floods.”
High water levels and heavy rainfall in November meant that the river was in the bowls of the partially collapsed building.
While investigatory work means that the clean-up of the river will not take place this year, the civic trust heard that the EA is keen “to get the flood defences right first time at minimum cost to the taxpayer.”
Owner of the Old Courthouse Building, Samiul Ahmed, has been approached for comment.
