Liberal Democrat Cllrs. Olwyn Luckley and Colin Farmer of Castle Ward were called to an emergency meeting in Willowholme, Carlisle on Friday, 27th November.

The Councillors found business people and Showmen shocked and angry that, yet again, their premises had been severely flooded. An early meeting with United Utilities, the private company responsible for the Willowholme Sewerage plant where the flooding came from, was called.

The newly built flood banks had done their job but an excessive amount of water and sewage in the public drainage pipes was unable to be pumped away.

Part of the major scheme of the drains system renewal after the 2005 flood was for a new pumping system to be put into the sewage plant. This had not been done, and a date of summer 2010 had been set, too late for the 2009 flood.

United Utilities, with City Council representatives, attended a meeting on 7th December with the people of Willowholme Industrial Estate. Cllr. Luckley welcomed the deep apology from United Utilities for the consequences of the flood and the firm's pledge and that the building of the extra pumping system will take place in January 2010, with temporary piping to be installed soonest to contain any flooding in the meantime.

United Utilities promised to keep in touch with businesses/residents during the building; Olwyn will make sure of that.