That this House notes that the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for Cockermouth on 4 November 2025; observes that the agency has installed additional flood barriers around the collapsed Grade II-listed Old Courthouse on the River Cocker; further notes that the agency reports it is closely monitoring Cocker Bridge, all at the taxpayers’ expense; decries the fact that we have entered a third flood season with no progress on securing this dangerously unstable building which the owner Mr Samiul Ahmed allowed to fall into the River Cocker in October 2023; condemns Mr Ahmed’s ongoing attempts to deflect responsibility onto Cumberland Council; highlights the clear and present danger to residents and the town caused by the resultant delay to capital works on the river bank; and demands that Mr Ahmed immediately hands over the keys of the Old Courthouse to allow the Environment Agency to get on with the urgent and necessary task of rebuilding Cockermouth’s vital flood defences.
