£60m flood defence boost for Essex
The Environment Agency and the Government are making investments in protecting Essex and the East of England
A huge effort is underway to protect thousands of Essex homes from flooding, with £60million to be spent on local defences.
The Environment Agency and the Government are making huge investments in protecting Essex and the East of England, with improvements and new defences totalling around £68 million.
Essex has been hit with several flooding tragedies, including the 1953 surge, which saw 58 killed and the evacuation of 13,000 residents from Canvey Island. Then, in July 2014, the island was hit again after 100mm of rain in just four hours.
Other parts of Essex were also affected, with Southend Hospital’s A&E partly evacuated, trains blocked, and roads flooded in the monsoon.
The Canvey southern shoreline revetment replacement plan is receiving about £9.9 million to renew and improve the sea defences along a 3km stretch between Thorney Bay and the Island Yacht Club.
The Team 2100 programme is getting around £2.5 million for tidal flood defences in London and the Thames Estuary, including the Thames Barrier. This will benefit Basildon, Thurrock, and the surrounding areas.
The Cockett Wick seawall in Clacton will undergo an improvement project worth £60,000, ensuring 3,000 homes and businesses in Jaywick are better protected from tidal flooding.
The Heybridge flood alleviation scheme, Maldon bypass and Heybridge lock gates renewal, and Heybridge lock flood gates refurbishment are all receiving £100,000 in funding. Meanwhile, the Ashingdon, The Drive, and Rochford surface water flood alleviation plans will be boosted by £810,000.
Caroline Douglass, executive director for flood and coastal risk management at the Environment Agency, said: “Protecting communities in the East of England from the devastating impact of flooding is our priority. The delivery of the schemes in the East of England will be welcome news for homeowners and businesses who have experienced flooding in the past and may face more extreme weather as our climate continues to change.
“Our focus is now on working with councils and regional flood and coastal committees to deliver these schemes on time, ensuring as many properties as possible are protected.”
Labour’s flooding minister said the new government had “inherited flood defences in their worst condition on record”.
Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “I know from firsthand experience the devastating impacts that flooding can cause. The role of Government is to protect its citizens.
“Through our Plan for Change, we are supporting schemes in the East of England, ensuring residents have the long-term protection they need while boosting local growth and creating new jobs.”