Latest news with #CarolineDouglass
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flood works to protect town get £20,000 boost
Flood defences to protect a town are set to receive £20,000 in government funding. Storm Bert caused chaos in Witney, Oxfordshire, in November with police closing Hailey Road through to Crawley Road, and reports of householders having to run to grab sandbags from a nearby school. The funding is part of the government's £2.65bn investment in flood and coastal risk management, in a bid to protect 52,000 homes and properties. The Witney Flood Alleviation Scheme is one of nearly 700 projects across the county that will receive part of the funding. The scheme is an Environment Agency (EA) project that would involve several bunds being built upstream of the town to hold water back. Caroline Douglass, executive director for flood and coastal risk management for the EA, said: "The delivery of these schemes 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." Sensors have been installed at seven locations across the Windrush to analyse how the river behaves during flooding, after the Witney Flood Group were given funding by the county council and West Oxfordshire District Council. Oxfordshire County Council also plans to grant funding for a number of small-scale flood schemes, such as reducing flooding from surface water run-off, ordinary watercourses and groundwater, between April 2025 and March 2026. The deadline for councils and flood groups to express an interest is 18 April. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Warnings remain after Christmas flooding Victim 'frazzled' as county battles floods Schools shut as heavy rain brings flooding New task force to help county prepare for flooding Flood victims 'vulnerable' due to lack of support Witney Flood Group West Oxfordshire District Council Oxfordshire County Council
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- 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
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Flood defences £25m investment to protect homes
More than £25m has been allocated to two flood defence schemes in Dorset and 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 than £12m has been awarded to flood defences from Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill in Dorset. In February, more than £2.5bn of government funding was committed to flood protection schemes across 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 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 government says it inherited flood assets in their poorest condition on 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.
