Carlisle, Lancaster and Keswick (and other minor Cumbrian towns) have been devastated by flooding from the torrential rain caused by "Storm Desmond".

It was about 10 years ago that a similar flood happened and despite preparing flood defences costing millions, it has happened again.

Firstly I find it odd that our government were quick to raise Billions for Bangla Desh and Bhutan flood disasters, but seem to be dallying about and not getting aid to our own. Some have been without basic services for days and many have no insurance because of previous flood damage rather than neglecting to take it out.

It's obvious that this recent flood is different to that of the Somerset Levels - there it was mainly a problem with poor maintenance of water channels by not dredging them and low lying areas that were basically a flood plain converted to agricultural land.

In Cumbria, the situation has been caused by rainwater running off the hills because of deforestation by farmers to allow sheep to graze there instead. This water then cascades through straightened water courses and onto towns like Carlisle where the defences can't cope and flood is inevitable. Apparently the highest level of water was 9" above the highest flood wall.... that's a huge margin.

It is impossible to build higher defences without ruining the ambience of these towns that rely on tourism for their economy.

Farmers should be forced to reinstate woodland on the hills to reduce the rainwater cascading down and water courses should be allowed to meander to reduce faster flow.

I blame rampant immigration - yes I do!

Without the pressure to build more houses and the necessary infrastructure to cope with a rapidly increasing population we wouldn't need to build on flood plains or encourage farmers to tend sheep on hill farms that were once woodlands.

Ignore the economic arguments and possible security threats from rampant immigration.... the fallout from this open door policy created by Blair and New Labour is now hitting the residents of Cumbria pretty hard.

Food for thought for those keen to stay in the EU and/or want to ship in asylum seekers/refugees from the middle east.

Edited by Hoof Hearted (09 Dec 2015 10.45am)

Carlisle, Lancaster and Keswick (and other minor Cumbrian towns) have been devastated by flooding from the torrential rain caused by "Storm Desmond".

It was about 10 years ago that a similar flood happened and despite preparing flood defences costing millions, it has happened again.

Firstly I find it odd that our government were quick to raise Billions for Bangla Desh and Bhutan flood disasters, but seem to be dallying about and not getting aid to our own. Some have been without basic services for days and many have no insurance because of previous flood damage rather than neglecting to take it out.

It's obvious that this recent flood is different to that of the Somerset Levels - there it was mainly a problem with poor maintenance of water channels by not dredging them and low lying areas that were basically a flood plain converted to agricultural land.

In Cumbria, the situation has been caused by rainwater running off the hills because of deforestation by farmers to allow sheep to graze there instead. This water then cascades through straightened water courses and onto towns like Carlisle where the defences can't cope and flood is inevitable. Apparently the highest level of water was 9" above the highest flood wall.... that's a huge margin.

It is impossible to build higher defences without ruining the ambience of these towns that rely on tourism for their economy.

Farmers should be forced to reinstate woodland on the hills to reduce the rainwater cascading down and water courses should be allowed to meander to reduce faster flow.

I blame rampant immigration - yes I do!

Without the pressure to build more houses and the necessary infrastructure to cope with a rapidly increasing population we wouldn't need to build on flood plains or encourage farmers to tend sheep on hill farms that were once woodlands.

Ignore the economic arguments and possible security threats from rampant immigration.... the fallout from this open door policy created by Blair and New Labour is now hitting the residents of Cumbria pretty hard.

Food for thought for those keen to stay in the EU and/or want to ship in asylum seekers/refugees from the middle east.

Edited by Hoof Hearted (09 Dec 2015 10.45am)

My bed's wet Dan!

Carlisle, Lancaster and Keswick (and other minor Cumbrian towns) have been devastated by flooding from the torrential rain caused by "Storm Desmond".

It was about 10 years ago that a similar flood happened and despite preparing flood defences costing millions, it has happened again.

Firstly I find it odd that our government were quick to raise Billions for Bangla Desh and Bhutan flood disasters, but seem to be dallying about and not getting aid to our own. Some have been without basic services for days and many have no insurance because of previous flood damage rather than neglecting to take it out.

It's obvious that this recent flood is different to that of the Somerset Levels - there it was mainly a problem with poor maintenance of water channels by not dredging them and low lying areas that were basically a flood plain converted to agricultural land.

In Cumbria, the situation has been caused by rainwater running off the hills because of deforestation by farmers to allow sheep to graze there instead. This water then cascades through straightened water courses and onto towns like Carlisle where the defences can't cope and flood is inevitable. Apparently the highest level of water was 9" above the highest flood wall.... that's a huge margin.

It is impossible to build higher defences without ruining the ambience of these towns that rely on tourism for their economy.

Farmers should be forced to reinstate woodland on the hills to reduce the rainwater cascading down and water courses should be allowed to meander to reduce faster flow.

I blame rampant immigration - yes I do!

Without the pressure to build more houses and the necessary infrastructure to cope with a rapidly increasing population we wouldn't need to build on flood plains or encourage farmers to tend sheep on hill farms that were once woodlands.

Ignore the economic arguments and possible security threats from rampant immigration.... the fallout from this open door policy created by Blair and New Labour is now hitting the residents of Cumbria pretty hard.

Food for thought for those keen to stay in the EU and/or want to ship in asylum seekers/refugees from the middle east.

Edited by Hoof Hearted (09 Dec 2015 10.45am)