Latest news with #flooddefences
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Plans to repair creek's 'poor' flood defences
Proposals to repair "poor" flood defences to protect a town and combat coastal erosion have been lodged as part of a multimillion-pound plan. Flood defences at Greatham Creek and Greenabella Marsh, off Tees Road, near Hartlepool, had been badly damaged since they were built in the late 19th Century, the Environment Agency said. The creek flooded in 2014 and has been damaged by drought, erosion and a rise in sea levels. But plans submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council said the repairs would "increase adaptability and resilience to climate change", as well as create a new habitat that would enrich biodiversity. Greatham Creek is home to various wildlife, including a seal colony and several species of bird. The Environment Agency's work, as part of their tidal flood risk management strategy, would include the breaching and re-alignment of Greenabella embankment and the reprofiling of the existing Greatham Creek embankment, including increasing the crest level. It would also see excavation works at Marsh House Farm to provide the clay material for the construction of new and repaired embankments. The EA report said the defences protected major chemical and petrochemical plants and infrastructure that were "important economically on a national scale". Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash stressed the importance of the scheme and lobbied ministers over the issue in the House of Commons in March. He said while the defences had been maintained over the years, their age meant they could fail, putting "communities at severe risk". In a letter to Secretary of State for Environment Steve Reed, he said: "Without dedicated funding for the repair and future-proofing of the Greatham Creek flood defences, we risk undermining broader flood mitigation efforts in the area." The government said it was investing £2.65bn over two years to improve flood resilience. A decision is expected to be made on the proposals by Hartlepool Borough Council in November. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this story Environment Agency gives £68m for flood protection Spending on flood defences set to rise to record levels Flood defences mended for thousands Flood defence repair work complete Related internet links Environment Agency Hartlepool Borough Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Repairs to Greatham Creek's 'poor' flood defences planned
Proposals to repair "poor" flood defences to protect a town and combat coastal erosion have been lodged as part of a multimillion-pound defences at Greatham Creek and Greenabella Marsh, off Tees Road, near Hartlepool, had been badly damaged since they were built in the late 19th Century, the Environment Agency creek flooded in 2014 and has been damaged by drought, erosion and a rise in sea plans submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council said the repairs would "increase adaptability and resilience to climate change", as well as create a new habitat that would enrich biodiversity. Greatham Creek is home to various wildlife, including a seal colony and several species of bird. The Environment Agency's work, as part of their tidal flood risk management strategy, would include the breaching and re-alignment of Greenabella embankment and the reprofiling of the existing Greatham Creek embankment, including increasing the crest would also see excavation works at Marsh House Farm to provide the clay material for the construction of new and repaired EA report said the defences protected major chemical and petrochemical plants and infrastructure that were "important economically on a national scale". Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash stressed the importance of the scheme and lobbied ministers over the issue in the House of Commons in said while the defences had been maintained over the years, their age meant they could fail, putting "communities at severe risk".In a letter to Secretary of State for Environment Steve Reed, he said: "Without dedicated funding for the repair and future-proofing of the Greatham Creek flood defences, we risk undermining broader flood mitigation efforts in the area."The government said it was investing £2.65bn over two years to improve flood resilience. A decision is expected to be made on the proposals by Hartlepool Borough Council in November. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Derby footbridge to shut for flood defence work
A footbridge over the River Derwent in Derby will close as part of a programme of work to build new flood bridge which connects Cathedral Green and Stuart Street will be inaccessible to pedestrians from Tuesday as part of the city council's £35m Our City, Our River scheme which includes work to demolish office blocks along the work also includes a new flood wall, floodgates and a riverside green area which will provide a "controlled corridor" for flood water to pass through the city council said the bridge will stay closed until "winter 2026". The council said several office buildings in Stuart Street and Phoenix Street will be demolished to make way for the green space and the new flood wall, with work set to start on Peat House in mid-August. Piling work will also be carried out near the swing bridge during this phase of Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for climate change, transport and sustainability, said the work will protect more than 2,000 properties in Derby."This next stage will deliver greater flood protection to areas of the city that were badly affected by Storm Babet in 2023, when the river reached its highest level since records began 90 years ago."As with all major construction works, there will be disruption, and we're working with our contractor to keep this to a minimum and ensure the works proceed safely and as quickly as possible."This means we have to take the swing bridge off river for the safety of the public while they are in progress."
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Millions needed to shore up prom to protect seaside town from flooding
Millions will need to be spent on shoring up a town's flood defences because of coastal erosion. West Norfolk Council says test pits dug along Hunstanton Prom have revealed areas of its foundations are now at risk of being undermined. It is because changing offshore currents which have washed sand and shingle away from the base of the revetment exposing it to the tides. A graphic showing areas of Hunstanton which could be at risk of flooding if the Prom is not repaired (Image: West Norfolk Council) If nothing is done swathes of the seafront could be at risk of flooding by 2060 as sea levels rise and storm surges become more frequent. At a briefing on Thursday (August 7) officials said sheet piling would be needed to prevent "structural failure" along sections of the defences in front of The Oasis, the Rock Shop ramp and North Prom. Pictures showing how sand has been washed away from the base of the defences (Image: West Norfolk council) Dave Robson, the council's environmental health manager, said: "It's not hazardous at the moment but if the beach drops any more it could reveal soft ground underneath, which could lead to the risk of undermining." READ MORE: Waves crash onto the Prom at Hunstanton during a high tide (Image: Chris Bishop) Some 338 of the concrete panels which form the promenade's deck will also need to be replaced. Mr Robson said the concrete was 70 years old and in "poor condition" and new panels would need to be installed. Looking south along the Prom at Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop) He said drawing up plans for the work could take up to two years, while the cost would not be known until a detailed design had been agreed. The council hopes it would be funded by the Regional Flooding and Coastal Committee, which allocates flood defence funds provided by central government. Test pits were dug along the Prom to investigate the state of the defences (Image: Chris Bishop) "It's going to be multiple millions," said Mr Robson. "It's not going to be a couple of hundred thousand." A 10-tonne weight limit and 5mph speed limit will also be brought in along the Prom from September until repairs have been carried out. A smaller bin lorry has been drafted in to empty bins along the Prom.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Work to improve Canvey Island flood defences is completed
A £75m project to reinforce flood defences on an island has been completed after three years of work.A 3km (1.9 mile) stretch of revetment on Canvey Island in Essex has been renewed with new Environment Agency (EA) said the refreshed flood defences would protect 6,000 homes and businesses until at least operations manager James Mason said the defences would "easily be able to cope" if there was ever a repeat of the 1953 North Sea storm that killed 59 people on the island. "That said, if in a massive event they were to be over-topped... there are good emergency plans in place to ensure that we would do a safe evacuation of the island," he added. The revetment refers to the man-made material of asphalt placed on the slope leading from the shore, up to the sea of the previous revetment dated back to the steps to the beach and project information boards were installed, and a pathway between Thorney Bay and Chapman Sands was EA is improving flood defences along the Thames Estuary as part of the government's Thames Estuary 2100 plan. Mr Mason continued: "We've overlaid those older revetments, especially where they've blown and they've become void, and we've overlain it with this open stone asphalt which is a much more gradual slope which means that the wave energy is dissipated a lot more effectively which then reduces the likelihood of erosion."We've been using this method for decades, especially around the Essex coastline."So we know it's effective, we know it works well and we know that it's easy to maintain going forward." Former Conservative Canvey Island town councillor and Castle Point borough councillor, Ray Howard MBE, survived the flood in 1953 at age 10."We lost everything, my father had no insurance at all," he recalled."I knew what it was to be poor."He became part of a local flood defence committee for 43 years, and attended a ceremony celebrating the reinforced revetment on Friday."The wonderful job they've done, it's amazing," he said."It just pleases me to think that this scheme - that I voted for - has been a great success, and seeing my lovely officer today, I was able to thank every one of them." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
