Landowners' attempts to make rivers more flood-resilient could lead to prosecutions, the Environment Agency has warned.

The announcement has sparked outrage from Cumbrians, who believe dredging rivers or building up the bank could help prevent another tragedy like December.

However the Environment Agency has warned that an environmental permit for flood risk activities is needed for certain work, such as removing stones.

Cath Evans, senior officer for flood and coastal risk management national services with the agency, said the regulations are vital to ensure such activities will not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere.

“Increasing the height of a wall to protect property can, in some cases, increase the risk of flooding to properties on the opposite side of the river or downstream,” she said.

Kerryanne Wilde, chief executive of Community Emergency Response Team in Cumbria, said: “The Environment Agency need to start the remedial work that needs to be done, to help put the minds at ease of all those who have been victims of flooding."

Of the many flood victims supported by Kerryanne and the team at CERT, the handful that are ready to return to their homes are already apprehensive about flooding again, as winter approaches and little preventative action has been taken.

“We have been told by the Met Office that the north west is prone to changing weather conditions and we need to be better prepared," Kerryanne continued.


"Insurance companies are telling people they need to be doing more to protect their home, but what can they do when the Environment Agency is not doing the work that needs to be done?

“The people living in those flood affected areas have expertise that no one else understands; they know what needs to be done.”

The Environment Agency says it is keen to work with people to ensure their efforts don't increase the risk of flooding to themselves - or others -and said environmental permits are free for flood damage repair.

Cath continued: “It is understandable people want to do what they can to protect themselves, and we have issued more than 400 permits since Storm Desmond.

“It is very rare that legal action is taken for carrying out this type of work, and in Cumbria no one has been prosecuted since the new legislation came into force [in April].”

Eden Rivers Trust has been working closely with the Environment Agency in river restoration and flood management and must apply for a permit for any work they plan to carry out.

Sam Mason, of Eden Rivers Trust, said: “All the work we do is part of a bigger restoration project, so hopefully we’re in a better position for the long term.

“It is difficult to say what the impact on this winter will be. Although we’ve started the work, there’s still a long way to go.”