RESIDENTS and business owners in Appleby will have an opportunity to find out more about the town's flood scheme at a drop-in next month. 

The community drop-in session will be held on Monday, April 3, 2-7pm, at Appleby Public Hall. 

The Environment Agency are currently developing plans to construct a pumping station within Broad Close car park which will better manage flooding from the Doomgate Culvert, and ultimately better protect 64 properties in the town centre. 

The works have faced criticism after businesses began to fear the worst with the announcement that the works could be set to close the town’s car park for up to 17 months. 

The installation of a pumping station at Broad Close car park is set to begin in Autumn, after the summer period.

READ MORE: Businesses fear the worst with town car park set to close for 17 months

Environment Agency area flood risk manager, Sharon Kennedy, said: "Appleby town centre is at risk from flooding both as a result of overtopping of the riverside defences and from surcharging of Doomgate Culvert.

“This scheme will address the Doomgate Culvert flooding mechanism, which is the most frequent source of flooding for this area of the town.

"The scheme promotes a proactive response to managing flood risk as opposed to a reactive operational response, which is what the town currently relies on.

“Over the period of the pumping station’s lifespan, we estimate this scheme will save in the region of £21,000,000 in damages caused by flooding as well as the distress and disruption experienced by business owners and residents who would have experienced flooding without this work taking place," she said.