£100m flood protection investment in Blackpool
The Fylde coast is set to receive £100m of government money to help protect thousands of homes from the risk of flooding.
The bulk of funding – around £74m – will be spent in the Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency where sea defences at Bispham cliffs have already been identified as needing repair.
Around £12m has been allocated to Blackpool South where work is required to protect the existing sea defences from the threat of erosion.
A beach nourishment programme is proposed to replace sand which has been washed away from the base of the sea defences, leaving the foundations exposed to erosion.
Fylde and Wyre have each been allocated around £7m for flood and coastal protection measures for their areas.
There is also money for measures to improve inland drainage by upgrading key water channels around Thornton.
Investment in all the schemes is due to take place over the next six years.
Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard said around 13,661 homes in his constituency would benefit.
He said: “Representing a seaside community, where the risk from coastal and surface water flooding is constantly present, such investment is vital.
“I have seen first hand, time and again, the impact flooding has on individuals, families and businesses.
“I have made clear to Government the need to deliver adequate protection for our towns, to put in place the infrastructure needed to prevent future incidents.
“The incredible investment which has transformed our sea front shows what can be achieved when we work together to tackle the threat of flooding.
“The £74m to protect more than 13,000 properties will help to build on this work by boosting the design and construction of flood alleviation schemes and putting the necessary measures in place to protect homes from flooding and coastal erosion.
“This will help to guard homes and families from the devastating impact of flooding, allowing people to feel reassured about the safety of their home.”
Detailed plans are still being worked up to show how the money will be spent, but £36m has been allocated to tackle coastal erosion between Bispham and Cleveleys and £38m to improve flood defences at Rossall Beach.
Another £600,000 will be spent on measures to reduce the threat of surface water flooding in the Thornton area.
Work is expected to focus on improving drainage from watercourses. Most of the area drains to Stanah through Royles and Hillylaid Brook, with £450,000 earmarked for the pumping station at Stanah.
It is hoped the benefits will be felt through a wider area of north Fylde, including Anchorsholme and Norbreck where residents have suffered flooding in their homes during periods of intense heavy rain.
Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said 2,550 additional homes would be protected from the risk of flooding from the £12m to be spent in his constituency.
He added: “Flooding can devastate communities – too many businesses, homes and families in Blackpool South have sadly fallen victim to this, and so we must put the necessary protections in place to tackle it.
“The £12m to protect 2,550 homes in Blackpool South will help to deliver on this by boosting the design and construction of flood alleviation schemes and putting the necessary measures in place to protect homes from flooding and coastal erosion.
“This will help to guard homes and families from the devastating impact of flooding, allowing people to feel reassured about the safety of their home.”
The funding is part of national investment of £860m between now and 2027 which will help to protect a total of 336,000 properties in England.
Blackpool has a marine frontage of about 11.25 km which needs constant maintenance. Since 1995, the resort’s Coast Protection Strategy has seen most of the sea wall rebuilt.
This includes £62m of investment to transform the promenade between the Sandcastle Water Park and North Pier which included building headlands and steps down to the beach.
The most recent coastal protection investment of £86m has seen new promenades open at Anchorsholme and Rossall.