One of England's biggest flood defences gets £43m funding boost
The funding is part of a £2.65bn announcement of investment in flood defences across the UK. Mr Reed added the government would continue to invest in building and maintaining flood defences.
The barrier in Bridgwater will be constructed across the River Parrett between Express Park and Chilton Trinity, and will have two vertical lift gates which can be closed to prevent water from flowing upstream during very high tides in the Bristol Channel.This, planners say, will help protect 11,300 homes in Bridgwater and neighbouring villages, as well as some 1,500 businesses, from flooding. The cost of the whole scheme, including the barrier, the operational site, downstream flood banks at Chilton Trinity, Pawlett and Combwich and 12 upstream sites with improved fish and eel passages, is £249m.
An extra £49m has also been announced in partnership funding.Alan Lovell, Environment Agency chair, said: "The impact of flooding on our communities will only become greater as climate change brings more extreme weather, like Storms Bert, Conall and Eowyn."With this new funding, we will work closely with the government to deliver the vital projects that are needed across the country, ensuring our investment goes to those communities who need it the most."
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