The Government is facing questions from a number of quarters over flood defence provision following  the weekend’s devastating floods in Cumbria. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Farron has criticised the Government for shelving 300 flood defence schemes deemed low priority.

Thousands of homes and businesses have been damaged, with serious damage to road, rail and other critical infrastructure as a result of the record floods.

A number of United Utilities’ treatment works and water mains across Cumbria have also been affected by the heavy rain, including Keswick, Borrowdale Valley, Langwathby, Lancaster and Carlisle.

On Friday the Environment Agency warned of significant flooding in northern England, saying that persistent heavy rain throughout Saturday and Sunday was expected to bring significant flood risks across Cumbria and Northumberland. However, no one appears to have been expected the record levels of rain.

Keswick and Carlisle have been particularly badly affected – Carlisle also saw serious flooding in 2005 and 2009.

Rail and electricity infrastructure have also been badly hit - Network Rail said the West Coast Main Line north of Carlisle will remain closed for several days after eight feet of water flooded the railway. 55,000 properties in Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and the surrounding area were left without power following a breach of flood defences at the major substation which serves the area after the river Lune burst its banks. Electricity North West has invested £7.9m in flood defences at major sites over the past few years, including Lancaster substation, to protect them against 'once-in-100 years' floods.

In 2010 the Environment Agency’s £38 million Carlisle flood defence scheme aimed at reducing flood risk to almost 3,500 homes and businesses was completed a year ahead of schedule. The scheme was already in development prior to severe flooding of the city in 2005 which claimed the lives of three people and affected 1,800 properties. It includes 10km of raised defences, 30 flood gates, two new automated pumping stations, two raised footbridges and 1,500 metres of improved cycleway.

In 2011 Keswick  became the first place in the North West of England to use glass flood defences with the incorporation of glass wall panelling in Keswick’s £6.1 million flood risk management scheme.

Main rivers all across Cumbria have exceeded the highest values ever recorded. River levels on the River Cocker peaked around 7pm on Saturday. The River Eden (at Sands Centre) broke through the previous highest record of 4.85m, rising over 6.2m around 11:30pm on Saturday. Similarly at Keswick, the River Greta (Greta Bridge) showed the highest ever recorded at 5.32m. The previous record was 4.66m. At Carlisle the Eden is forecast to peak at 7.7-7.9m at 9am Sunday. The previous highest recorded was 7.2m.

The Agency is warning of ongoing flood risks despite the fact that heavy rain has now stopped in northern England, saying rivers are still high and severe ongoing flooding impacts are continuing across Cumbria with a high overall flood risk. There are currently  46 severe flood warnings in place, 39 flood warnings and 46 flood alerts in England and Wales.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss who chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency Committee COBR yesterday, said:

“Our flood defences and the swift actions of emergency services have protected thousands of properties across the country but unprecedented levels of rainfall mean that the water in some areas has risen to levels never seen before. That has meant that while flood defences have delayed and reduced the impact, we have seen some water overtopping defences in places.”

“Flood defences performed as they were designed to but because of the exceptional levels of rainfall we have seen water overtopping some flood defences. These defences have still provided vital time for the emergency services to evacuate homes and preparations to be made.”

The Environment Agency has been carrying out an aerial survey over Carlisle to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate the response. Satellites have also been tasked to cover the flooded areas to five responders the best possible picture of what is happening on the ground.

Over the past 48 hours, Environment Agency rain gauges have also recorded widespread totals of more than 200mm across Cumbria. Provisional figures from a rain gauge in Honister in Cumbria show that 341mm rain fell in 24 hours (18:30 Friday- 18.30 Saturday). If verified, this will be a UK record for 24 hours. This is more than a month’s worth of rainfall in a day.

The Agency  has used all its flood storage reservoirs at Carlisle, Wigton, Longton, Kendal and Penrith and also  operated flood basins at Garstang and Catterall on the River Wyre - the two basins collectively, hold 3 million cubic metres of flood water .

The Government had a manifesto commitment to build 1,400 new flood defence schemes that will better protect 300,000 more homes, representing an extra £2.3 billion of capital investment.

Prime Minister David Cameron is currently chairing another meeting of the COBR Committee this morning to discuss the situation.