years ago ive watched diggers cleaning out the river beds on the river caldew and near the old waverley viaduct on the river eden.also over the last few years you dont see the council guys in the country locations cleaning out the road side, side of the road ditches with there spades.the councils drain cleaning wagons.so the culprit to all the flooding is the councils,cut backs.

Here we go Sellafield getting the blame again.Due to the lack of rural buses going to site people have to use their cars.If you live in a village off the main road you will still have to get in the car and drive to main road. The floods are caused by nature.The fields cannot cope with water and it is running off into rivers and they cannot cope with the vast amount of water.It is not a problem which can be solved by unblocking the drains.The rivers need to to dredged.If you look at the river derwent from Calva bridge to the new Northside bridge the amount of stone which was swept down during the floods has not been cleared.If the environment agency would allow this work to be done, clearing all the rivermouths and harbours it would make a hell of a difference.Come Cumbria County Council create work for struggling companies and get the dredgers in you know it makes sense.

I agree Derek, there wouldn't have been any problems on the road if it wasn't for all the selfish Sellafield workers clogging the roads up by all wanting to get there at the same time, and causing congestion when other people are trying to use the roads!!

Drainage is the responsibility of Councils/Highways depts. United utilities deal with domestic wastewater/sewarage (i.e. things that need some sort of teatment)

Aye, misery you're right. Sat on these cold wet damp smelly Stagecoach buses for 2 hours wi all these sellafield workers blocking the roads up. Why can't they all get on 50 buses? That would clear up the traffic round Egremont.

Badgers and Rabbits what kind of animal can eat through concrete :)get real Mr.Old! Come on the defence wall has been remarkable concidering the ammount of rain we have had.....

Road surface water arises due to blocked drains. Ensuring the drains are kept clear is surely the responsibility of United Utilites who, I am sure, completed huge works in the Warwick Rd area. However the substantial standing water in Warwick Rd illustrates the drains are not working and is also a traffic danger. What action have our Councillors taken?... responses please!

I wonder if the flooding around Carlisle is due to blocked drains as it hasnt been raining that much, the council havent bothered to empty/clean out any of the blocked drains I've reported in the last few months.

Has anyone checked to ascertain if, by chance, rabbits or badgers have made holes anywhere in the long flood wall? Give the flood water an inch and it will take (erode) the wall!