25-May-2006 - Environment
Agency Chairman, Sir John Harman, has officially
opened the Shoreham and Lancing Sea Defences with
the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
The Environment Agency finished
the £18 million improvements to the sea
defences in East Worthing, Lancing and West Shoreham
last June. The work means that over 1300 residential
and commercial properties, the A259 and Shoreham
Airport are significantly better protected against
flooding from the sea.
The deterioration of the original
defences and the impacts of climate change meant
that it was essential to improve the sea defences.
Work started in 2003 and was carried out over
three phases.
The Environment Agency pumped
375,000 cubic metres of shingle, dredged from
the seabed off the Isle of Wight, onto the beach.
This provides a good natural defence by preventing
seawater from washing over the top and flooding
the land behind. Around 160,000 tonnes of rock
was imported from Norway and France to build 33
groynes that replaced the original timber ones.
The rock groynes work by keeping the shingle in
place.
The Environment Agency also
installed a pipeline through the shingle bank
to improve and safeguard the Widewater Lagoon
nature reserve in Lancing. Widewater Lagoon is
a saline habitat that supports some rare flora
and fauna. Low water levels and high salinity
in the summer had made it hard for some species
to survive. The new pipe allows a controlled amount
of seawater to enter the lagoon when water levels
are low.
To celebrate the official opening
of the Shoreham and Lancing Sea Defences, Sir
John Harman will unveil a commemorative plaque
set into one of the rocks imported from Norway
at Widewater Lagoon.
Environment Agency Sussex Area
Manager, Rupert Clubb, said:
“We’re very pleased that Sir
John Harman is here to officially open our improvements
to the East Worthing, Lancing and West Shoreham
sea defences.
“I’d like to thank all those
who helped us complete the sea defences and the
residents for their patience and understanding
whilst it was going on. Floods are natural events
and we are unable to stop them from happening
altogether but our work means residents in this
part of West Sussex now have significantly improved
protection from coastal flooding. We’ve also made
a difference to the local environment by improving
the amenity of the beach and safeguarding the
future of the Widewater Lagoon nature reserve.
“We are now looking to further
reduce flood risk in the area by looking at how
we can better protect those people at risk of
flooding from the west bank of the River Adur.”
