Water company working to reduce flooding on street

Work to reduce flooding on a street "can't come soon enough", a councillor has said.

Water company United Utilities said it was "continuing to investigate" the performance of the sewer network on Walney Island in Barrow, Cumbria, after concerns about Black Butts Lane.

It was flooded in September and last August after heavy downpours.

Westmorland and Furness councillor Frank Cassidy said: "Residents of Black Butts Lane are right to call attention to the flooding problem on that part of Walney Island - the northern section of the lane is vulnerable to flooding during heavy downpours."

"It is the responsibility of United Utilities to address the problem of sewers becoming unable to cope with exceptional downpours," he added.

"They've said they’re going to carry out investigations and that can't come soon enough."

Resident Colin Sharpe previously said the street had "consistent" issues with flooding over the years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Sharpe said: "With prolonged severe weather events occurring more frequently on the back of general climate change, this becomes more of an issue."

A United Utilities spokesman said: "Over the coming years we want to work with the local authority to develop schemes that will help to reduce flooding by separating rainwater from the sewer system."

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