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Flood defences £25m investment to protect homes
Flood defences £25m investment to protect homes

Yahoo

time31-03-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

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

Council announces £20m investment in green vehicles
Council announces £20m investment in green vehicles

Yahoo

time09-02-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

Council announces £20m investment in green vehicles

A local authority has announced a multi-million pound investment into environmentally friendly vehicles across its fleet. The £20m Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council scheme will see the authority replace vehicles reaching the end of their life with lower carbon alternatives. It is the second stage of the council's plan to make its fleet greener, and will see 280 new vehicles purchased over the next three years. The investment means residents will "benefit from lower carbon emissions", BCP Council said. Andy Hadley, the authority's environment chief, said the scheme marked a "significant step" towards its plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. "Phase Two of this scheme will allow the council to build on its successful first phase and will place BCP amongst leading councils in transitioning towards operating a green fleet," he said. "This new investment ensures we can continue to deliver on our promise of making Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole a better place for everyone." Phase one of the council's scheme began in 2021 with seven electric bin lorries and 67 electric vans. The authority said it had so far resulted in annual carbon emissions being cut by 250 tonnes every year. It operates more than 600 vehicles across BCP, and said it anticipated that around a quarter of these will be electric by 2028. BCP Council's Cabinet unanimously approved the scheme's funding at a meeting on Wednesday. The final decision will be considered at a full council meeting in the coming weeks. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

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