Flood defences £25m investment to protect homes
More than £25m has been allocated to two flood defence schemes in Dorset and Hampshire.
The flagship North Portsea Coastal Scheme in Hampshire covers 5.2 miles (8.4km) of coastline from Tipner through to Milton.
It will receive £13.8 million Environment Agency (EA) funding to protect more than 4,000 properties and 500 businesses.
More than £12m has been awarded to flood defences from Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill in Dorset.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said the scheme reduce the risk of tidal flooding to more than 2,000 properties in and around Poole town centre "over the next 100 years".
Councillor Andy Hadley said: "The project will also support redevelopment of the Poole West Quays, including a continuous public quayside, and this funding is a welcome boost towards delivering that vision."
The Portsea scheme has been underway since 2015 and is due to finish in 2026.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the £85.9m project said the money "gives us an exciting opportunity to ensure this vital sea defence project leaves behind a green legacy".
In February, more than £2.5bn of government funding was committed to flood protection schemes across England.
The Environment Agency (EA) says the funding for both new and pre-existing schemes will reduce the risk from flooding for more than 60,000 properties in England.
There is also money for coastal defences along the south coast, including Eastbourne, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, as well as reservoir maintenance works at Aldershot.
Caroline Douglass, executive director for flood and coastal risk management at the EA, said defending communities was a "priority."
She said climate change had made it "more important than ever".
"The delivery of the schemes will be welcome news for homeowners and businesses who have experienced flooding and may face more extreme weather.
"Our focus is now on working to deliver these schemes on time, ensuring as many properties as possible are protected," she added.
Last year, a cross-party committee of MPs said between 2021 and 2024, the Conservatives had failed to properly maintain existing flood defences or build enough new ones.
The government says it inherited flood assets in their poorest condition on record.
Floods minister Emma Hardy said the investment will "build and repair over 1,000 flood defences across the country".
More than £100m has also been earmarked to repair and maintain defences, some of which were damaged in last year's floods.
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Spending on flood defences set to rise to record levels
Environment Agency gives £68m for flood protection
Devon and Cornwall flood schemes get funding boost
Natural flood prevention scheme gets £800,000
Environment Agency
Coastal Partners
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dem senator's viral outburst at DHS presser triggers mixed reactions from lawmakers: 'Disgusting situation'
House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle gave strong reactions shortly after Sen. Alex Padilla's, D-Calif., viral outburst that got him thrown out of a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Jim Jordan of Ohio spoke to Fox News Digital after Padilla was escorted out of the hearing. "That was crazy," Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said. "It's a disgusting situation," Jeffries said. Senate Shaken: Bipartisan Worry Erupts After Incident Involving California Democrat Many Democrats condemned how the Secret Service handcuffed and removed Padilla from the room during the event, with some even calling on Noem to resign. Padilla and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ended up holding a meeting afterward, which Padilla's office described as "civil," and Noem described as "cordial" despite the strong disagreements between the two. Read On The Fox News App Luna, a Florida Republican, said the viral incident speaks to a larger optics issue with men in the Democratic Party. "I think optics are pretty bad for Democrat men as a whole," Luna said. "I mean, he aggressively was approaching her. Obviously, security saw that as a threat. I know after the fact, she actually was gracious enough after he pulled that to talk with him for a little bit and then exchange numbers. But the fact is that he's a sitting senator, and he's acting like a weirdo. I don't know how else to describe it, other than you should not act like that, period, and especially not show aggression like that towards women," she continued. Conservatives Erupt After Dem Senator's 'Temper Tantrum' Sends Dhs Presser Off The Rails "I think he was trying to get clickbait, but I don't know about how you were raised, but I was raised that you don't throw temper tantrums, and you certainly don't approach women like that," she continued. Click Here For More Immigration Coverage Jordan, an Ohio Republican, wondered why Padilla was in Los Angeles instead of Washington, D.C., as the Senate was in session on Thursday. "Well, I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is, why isn't he here voting? I – just like, the Senate's in session. I just did a press conference with senators," he said. "I know they're in session, so why is he here doing that? And then. Second, why not just wait and do your own press conference? Like, the press is there. The cameras are microphones are there. If you wait till Secretary Noem is done, and then you tell them you want to say a few things, you cover him, everyone will cover you, journalists, everyone cover him. So, to me, those are the two takeaways. Why not just do it the common-sense way instead of going in and making a scene," the Republican added. Padilla Hopes People Feel 'Outrage' Over His Forcible Removal And Detainment The FBI said that he was let go after he had properly identified himself, as he was not wearing his security pin when he interrupted Noem while trying to ask a question during her remarks. Padilla did state his name and was wearing a shirt that said the U.S. Senate on it. "If this is how this administration responds to a Senator with a question, you can only imagine what they're doing to farmworkers, to cooks, and to day laborers throughout California and throughout the country. We will hold this administration accountable," he said after the incident. Meanwhile, DHS slammed it as "disrespectful political theater." The press conference was focused on anti-ICE civil unrest in Los Angeles as federal immigration authorities continue arrests of illegal immigrants in the article source: Dem senator's viral outburst at DHS presser triggers mixed reactions from lawmakers: 'Disgusting situation'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay aims to get party ‘back on the pitch'
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has insisted his party can 'get back on the pitch' as he set Conservatives the target of increasing their number of seats at Holyrood in next May's election. Mr Findlay said some wanted to 'write off' the Tories, but he believed they could win seats from the SNP in the 2026 vote, holding out the potential of even ousting First Minister John Swinney from his Perthshire constituency. While polls have pointed to Nigel Farage's Reform party – which has no seats at Holyrood at present – overtaking the Tories, Mr Findlay made clear he was 'not prepared to accept doom and gloom'. He promised his party would offer voters a 'a common-sense vision for Scotland's future'. He set out plans to save £650 million by 'cutting red tape, getting a grip on spending and harnessing business expertise', with the cash to be used to cut taxes for Scots. He also vowed the Tories would 'scrap' Scotland's 'unaffordable and unachievable' target of reaching net zero by 2045. Mr Findlay added he would boost doctor numbers by setting a target to have more Scottish medical students, and tackle classroom violence and improve education with a 'firmer approach' to school discipline. In his first major conference speech since becoming Scottish Tory leader last year, Mr Findlay said: 'We will aim to take on and defeat the SNP in more constituencies. 'Not just hold on to what we have but win more.' 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "We will aim to take on and defeat the SNP in more constituencies. "Not just hold onto what we have but win more."#SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 He added: 'Pundits want to write off our party. 'But I'm an optimist. I'm not prepared to accept doom and gloom. 'Where we are today is not necessarily where we will be tomorrow. 'By working hard, sticking to our values, and holding our nerve, we can and will turn things around.' The Tories returned 31 MSPs at Holyrood in the last Scottish elections in 2021, and Mr Findlay said the target of winning more is 'optimistic' but 'also realistic if you speak to people'. He even set his sights on winning the Perthshire North seat of Mr Swinney, saying that while the SNP 'will do everything to protect' its leader there, seats like that 'can be in play for us'. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh, Mr Findlay said: 'Wouldn't that be some prize? Swinney paying the price for his abysmal record.' He claimed that Mr Swinney was 'an Amstrad politician in the Apple age', adding the First Minister would 'impoverish Scotland in pursuit of his perverse lifelong desire to destroy the UK'. Mr Findlay said: 'People like him are why voters have lost trust in politics.' Next May's election should be a 'referendum on the SNP's record', Mr Findlay said, adding there is a 'binary choice between the change that Scotland so urgently needs or more of the same from John Swinney'. The Scottish Conservative leader told his party: 'I guarantee that we will stand on a manifesto with funded tax cuts.' 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "Let's make the Holyrood election a referendum on the SNP's record. "A binary choice between the change that Scotland so urgently needs or more of the same from John Swinney."#SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 His pledge to save £650 million would be achieved with a Taxpayer Savings Act, and he said the Tories would also 'shut down quangos that don't deliver value' and reverse the £20,000 a year pay rise for Scottish ministers delivered by Mr Swinney'. Civil service jobs would be reduced to the level of 10 years ago and there would be 'much stricter rules on pay rises' for public sector workers. In a move similar to US President Donald Trump's creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), Mr Findlay promised to bring in a Scottish Agency of Value and Efficiency (Save) to be run by business leaders 'tasked with wielding a claymore on waste'. On energy, the Scottish Tory leader said the party would 'scrap the SNP's 2045 net zero target', insisting it is 'unaffordable and unachievable'. He told party supporters: 'Instead of spending this money on SNP eco projects, we would use it to protect oil and gas workers' livelihoods.' 🗣️ @RussellFindlay1: "Today I can announce that we would introduce a Taxpayer Savings Act to get the books in order and deliver better value. "This proposal would save £650 million by cutting red tape, getting a grip on spending, and harnessing business expertise."#SCC25 — Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) June 14, 2025 He said the Tories would 'would take £100 off every household energy bill in Scotland from the proceeds of leasing our waters to wind farms', and would give residents new legal powers to oppose 'mega-pylons'. On education, he also promised 'less bureaucracy' and said teachers should be free to 'instil discipline… because violence in schools has reached truly horrific levels'. 'We must now take a firmer approach. Exclusions are not cruel, but sometimes necessary.' To tackle problems in the NHS he said 'the way to deliver more doctors is simple common sense', claiming what is needed is 'more Scottish students training to join Scotland's NHS'. Arguing Scottish medical students are more likely to work in Scotland after finishing their training than their overseas counterparts, Mr Findlay said the Tories would set a new target for the number of Scottish medical students at Scottish universities.
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Can An Airport Really Become Green? Christchurch Airport Is Trying
Claire Waghorn, the airport's sustainability transition leader, on the top floor of the Novotel Christchurch Airport. Can an airport be sustainable? Before you answer that question, step outside any terminal and catch a whiff of burning jet fuel — a searing, earthy odor that reminds you air travel is one of the most carbon-intensive industries on the planet. But Christchurch Airport, a small aviation hub on New Zealand's sparsely populated South Island, is determined to flip the script. Over the past two decades, the airport has quietly tried to transform itself into a sustainability innovator — and prove that even in an industry notorious for its environmental impact, meaningful change is possible. "It's a challenge," says Claire Waghorn, the airport's sustainability transition leader. "But we must rise to the challenge." Christchurch Airport has already slashed its operational emissions by 92 percent from a decade ago. And last week, it announced the adoption of a sophisticated new carbon emission tracking system. Now it's tackling the far greater challenge of reducing aircraft emissions. While the path to sustainability is fraught with challenges and occasional missteps, Christchurch Airport's progress offers a possible blueprint for how airports — and perhaps entire industries — can reimagine their environmental impact. An electric bus at Christchurch Airport. Christchurch Airport's approach to sustainability is deeply influenced by Māori principles, particularly the concept of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship. 'It's about recognizing that everything is interconnected,' Waghorn explains. 'We can't address climate change in isolation. We have to consider biodiversity, social equity, and economic resilience as part of the same puzzle. Alongside this, understanding we need to act with intergenerational interests at heart.' This holistic philosophy is reflected in the airport's use of the 'doughnut economics' framework, which balances environmental limits (the outer ring of the doughnut) with social minimum standards (the inner ring). The goal is to operate within these boundaries and ensure that the airport's operations are not at the expense of the planet. Christchurch Airport's sustainability journey began in 2006, long before most airports were even thinking about carbon footprints. Back then, their emissions tracking was rudimentary, but it laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most ambitious decarbonization plans in the aviation industry. By 2015, the airport had a clear road map in place. Since then, it has reduced its operational emissions by 92 percent. How did they do it? 'We've got this little bit left on our own plate,' Waghorn said, referring to the remaining 8 percent of emissions. 'It's things like backup generators and fire extinguishers — tiny amounts that are surprisingly hard to eliminate.' An electric plane recharging at Christchurch Airport. While Christchurch Airport has made steady progress in reducing its own emissions, it's quick to acknowledge the bigger challenge: aircraft emissions. 'Our operational footprint is around 240 tons per year,' Waghorn noted. 'The airlines? Eight hundred thousand tons.' To address this, the airport is positioning itself as a pioneer in the transition to low-carbon aviation. Its strategy focuses on three key technologies: 'Airlines sign contracts for new planes three to four years before delivery," says Waghorn, "but the infrastructure to support them takes seven to eight years to build. It's very challenging. We have to act now, even without certainty about which technologies will dominate.' Sustainability at Christchurch Airport isn't just about cutting emissions. It's also about biodiversity, water conservation, energy efficiency, and rethinking waste. The airport has implemented a robust circular economy program, focusing on materials recovery and reducing single-use plastics. One standout initiative is its waste sorting system. The airport collects everything and sorts it back of house offsite. The results have been staggering: half of what was once considered general waste is now diverted to recycling or composting streams. 'We've also partnered with local organizations to repurpose food waste from our lounges,' Waghorn added. 'It's about finding the best possible outcome for every item that comes through our terminal.' Despite the progress, Christchurch Airport faces its share of challenges and skeptics. For one, sustainability efforts often go unnoticed by passengers. 'A lot of this work happens behind the scenes,' Waghorn acknowledges. 'It's not as tangible as, say, a solar panel or a wind turbine.' Sustainability is not entirely invisible. For example, you might see the airport's solar farm when you taxi for takeoff — it's being built on the southwestern side of the airport. And you might notice electric buses shuttling passengers around the airport and into the city. There have been a few missteps. The airport's attempt to replace milk bottles with milk kegs failed because of timing and fluctuations in milk use. Christchurch Airport's sustainability journey is far from over. With a goal of achieving absolute zero emissions in airport operations by 2035 — no offsets, just real reductions — the facility is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in airports, while continuing to explore how to support and accelerate the wider aviation transition. "It's really, really hard to get consistent behavior from a transient crowd," says Waghhorn. Some of the missteps are funny, in hindsight. Consider the airport's purchase of an electric autonomous shuttle in 2017. Although the shuttle was a bold step toward modernizing airport transportation, it could not be used on the road because it wasn't street-legal. "We learned so much from that," laughs Waghorn. The airport quietly sold the shuttle and transitioned to an electric van driven by a human. The airport's experiences suggest that the path to sustainability is almost never linear. The airport has had to adapt, learn from its errors, and stay focused on the bigger picture, even when faced with setbacks and skepticism. "We always have to keep trying to do more," she says. Christchurch Airport's sustainability journey is far from over. With a goal of achieving absolute zero emissions by 2035 — no offsets, just real reductions — the facility is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in airports. But perhaps its greatest contribution lies in its willingness to share its successes — and failures. 'Collaboration is everything,' Waghorn says. 'We can't do this alone. It's about working with airports, airlines, manufacturers, energy providers, and communities to create a shared vision for the future.' For travelers, Christchurch Airport offers a glimmer of hope. It's proof that even in an industry as carbon-intensive as aviation, sustainability is not just a buzzword. It's a tangible, achievable goal. And while the road ahead is long and filled with pitfalls, the airport's progress serves as a reminder that every step, no matter how small, may bring us closer to a sustainable future.
