High level meetings between Cumbria County Council officials and the government are now taking place in a bid to secure Whitehall cash for the major infrastructure repairs urgently needed across the region.
Cllr Stewart Young Speaking at a meeting of CCC’s cabinet committee in Kendal yesterday, council leader Cllr Stewart Young said getting the money in place from central government to foot the cost of repairs to roads, schools and new bridges was vital.
“Discussions with the treasury are ongoing,” he confirmed.
“The infrastructure damage alone is going to cost hundreds of millions of pounds. We have a 19th century infrastructure in many cases in Cumbria.
“Pooley Bridge was 250 years old and that has disappeared completely and the A591 is seriously damaged, but I would to think that the repairs and replacements we make now will be designed to better withstand incidents like this which seem to be becoming more frequent.”
Cabinet members heaped praise on Cumbria’s spirit and resilience following this month’s unprecedented floods which saw more than 6,000 homes and businesses across the county – including in Carlisle, Kendal and Appleby – damaged by Storm Desmond.
The “magnificent” work of emergency response staff, council employees, charitable organisations, volunteer rescue crews and the armed forces, who were said to have worked round the clock to keep residents safe, was highlighted during the meeting at Kendal County Hall.
CCC’s emergency “gold command” structure became operational to co-ordinate the authorities response to the storm while the cabinet members were told offers of help and assistance had been made from other local authorities as far away as Essex, Somerset, Norfolk and north Wales.
Cllr Young also spoke highly of the Spirit of Cumbria initiative, launched by the Evening Mail’s parent company; CN Group, stating it had embodied the feeling throughout the community as people did whatever they could to help.
He said: “People worked 24/7 to deal with this.
“Organisations have worked together, the police and fire teams have done a fantastic job and almost every volunteer organisation in the country has come forward to help.
“The Spirit of Cumbria hashtag really does describe the aftermath of this absolutely unprecedented event exceptionally well.”
Fellow cabinet member Cllr Ann Burns added: “Our thanks must go to everyone who has been involved and is still involved now.
“The dedication shown has been absolutely unbelievable.”
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