Carlisle has been unsuccessful in its bid for funding that would have helped with the creation of a network of community wardens, ready for action at times of possible flooding.

Carlisle City Council, working with a steering group, had submitted a bid to the National Lottery for funding that would go towards working out how such a network of flood wardens could be effectively set up across the city.

A similar network of community wardens currently operates in Keswick.

However, the city council's bid for the funding of a feasibility study was not successful.

Carlisle City Council's environment and transport portfolio holder, Nigel Christian, will outline to the council at its meeting next Tuesday that there will be further opportunities to secure National Lottery funding for this project.

Mr Christian outlined in his report which will be presented to next week's meeting that "the next round of funding will have a focus on Covid-19 recovery and resilience.

"We will work with the steering group to bid again in this round."

Carlisle Flood Action Group chairman John Kelsall said that the creation of such a scheme could benefit Carlisle communities in times of imminent flooding crisis, though he stressed that he would want to see robust training put in place, and for any warden group to be coordinated in the right manner, to ensure that they were not "ill-equipped" or likely to put themselves in "any danger".

Mr Kelsall added that it was sensible in any future flood wardens scheme that the wardens themselves did not live in flood-prone areas.

"People who are impacted by floods are probably the last people who would want to be having their time diverted by too much other work," he said.

"If your house is about to be flooded, then you've got priorities of your own, rather than going up and down the street."

But he added that "in theory", such a network of community wardens for the Carlisle area is a sound principle, particularly to ensure those without internet or a mobile phone are warned of any imminent dangers, and how to immediately respond.

"It would be a last resort to make sure everybody is aware," Mr Kelsall said.