Short-term measures to prevent further landslip to a flood hit road will soon be in place in the city.

A city councillor has spoken about the measures Cumbria County Council are going to to stop further erosion happening on Etterby Road after it was hit by flooding in 2015.

Councillor Gareth Ellis explained how some residents were worried about the risk to their properties as the road recedes, although this is not imminent the risk is still a potential.

Mr Ellis explained: “In 2015 the flooding eroded the bank along Etterby Road. It’s on the River Eden and the bank was eroded and it meant there was a bit of a landslip next to the highway.

“Cumbria County Council, out of the flood resources that they had, were going to re-enforce the bank and make sure there was no further slippage.

“That was all ready to go and then Network Rail said to do that you need to be able to access our property and we don’t want you to do that.”

That was two-and-a-half years ago and the situation is no further forward with concern from residents about the state of the road growing.

However, now Cumbria County Council are trying to put in short-term measures to stop any further erosion by making the traffic one-way.

“Cumbria County Council is making Etterby Road, just before the bridge, one-way and putting traffic lights on there,” added Mr Ellis.

“So they’re moving traffic to the other side of the road away from any potential landslip.

“If you look down it you can see there is a drop. Cumbria County Council feel there isn’t an imminent risk but at some point it needs to be reinforced, so what they are going to do is put boreholes down on the road to be able to measure any further erosion to the land.

“What really needs to happen is there needs to be an agreement on what is going to happen.”

Moving traffic to one side of the road will only stop receding in the short-term but will not stem the problem.

Mr Ellis said: “Something should be able to get fixed but it will in the short-term.

“Cumbria County Council are going to be putting temporary work on the road before the bridge.

“They have to do this to alleviate any risk of the road further deteriorating.

“This is supposed to be a sticking plaster solution taking the traffic from one side of the road and putting it on the other.

“Residents their are worried about the risk to their property. Although it may be a long way off, even 20-years-away, they are still worried.”

A spokesman for Cumbria Council Council said: “The slope below Etterby Road was significantly weakened during Storm Desmond, however monitoring since 2016 has shown no further movement of the highway.

“The county council recognises the need to take action to repair the slope and protect the highway, neighbouring properties and local businesses.

"The slope is situated on land owned by Network Rail, and the council is working with Network Rail to agree a schedule of works, and to find a permanent solution to repair the slope.

“In the meantime, as a temporary measure, two-way traffic lights are to be installed to take pressure off the crest of the slope and to maintain two-way traffic. The council will also be installing additional boreholes underneath the highway surface to monitor for any further slippage of the road.”