A new report from the
Environment Agency today has shown that
with over 9000 properties at a significant
chance of flooding, Shepway
in Kent is one of the top 10 areas in the
country with the highest number of properties
at significant risk.
A new report from the
Environment Agency today has shown that
with over 9000 properties at a significant
chance of flooding, Shepway in Kent is one
of the top 10 areas in the country with
the highest number of properties at significant
risk.
The Environment Agency
today issued new figures showing 1 in 6
homes in England at risk of flooding and
warned that this number is set to increase
as climate change increases the risk of
coastal erosion and flooding from rivers
and the sea.
The Shepway area is
extremely low-lying with around 24 per cent
of properties in the Shepway area at some
risk of flooding from the sea and rivers.
The Environment Agency and Shepway District
Council are working together to reduce flood
risk where possible in the area.
In Dymchurch, work on
the second stage of a £60 million
sea defence project is currently underway.
The original defences were at the end of
their life and extremely vulnerable. The
work to improve defences will significantly
reduce flood risk for nearly two and a half
thousand homes in the area. Following the
Folkestone to Cliff End strategy published
in 2008 on how flood and erosion can be
managed between Folkestone to Cliff End,
the Environment Agency is now hoping to
get funding for further schemes at Broomhill
Sands, Lydd Ranges and Romney Sands.
Mark Douch, Kent &
East Sussex Flood Risk Manager said: “The
latest UK climate change data shows that
the risk of flooding and coastal erosion
around the country will continue to increase
in future with rising sea levels and more
frequent and heavy storms. We all have to
make important decisions about how to manage
these risks to protect people, communities,
businesses and the economy in future.
“We are working with
our colleagues at Shepway District Council
to reduce flood risk where we can in the
area. Our £60 million scheme in Dymchurch
will increase protection to nearly two and
a half thousand homes and with several other
schemes planned in the area, we hope many
more people living in Shepway will soon
benefit from improved protection from flooding.
But whilst continued investment in managing
these risks is crucial, we cannot always
prevent flooding. Together with Shepway
District Council, we are also working with
those communities at risk to help them understand
that risk and what measures they can take
to prepare for a flood.”
Cllr Robert Bliss, Leader
of Shepway District Council, said the council
was alert to the risks posed by sea level
rise and climate change in a district which
has vast tracks of low-lying marshes.
“Our planning blueprint
for the future, the Local Development Framework,
directs development from areas identified
as having the highest flood risk. We cannot
change our district’s landscape but we can
be alert to the problems facing it and,
working in partnership with Environment
Agency, we can do as much as we can to mitigate
the risks to homes and businesses.”
One of the biggest coast
protection schemes ever carried out on the
district’s shoreline was completed in 2004.
The £13m Hythe to Folkestone Harbour
Coast Protection Scheme was designed to
significantly reduce the risk of coastal
flooding and erosion for the next 50 years
and protects around 3,000 homes and commercial
assets to an approximate value of £20million.
+ More
Environment Agency help
out with hospice gardens
The Environment Agency
showed its commitment to both society and
the environment by using wood chippings
or mulch, created from trees removed during
work on the St Neots flood defence scheme,
for the Sue Ryder Hospice gardens at Peterborough.
In addition eight members
of staff then took advantage of the Environment
Agency’s green leave scheme (this enables
staff to take a day off to do environmental
work with local communities), to carry out
work in the hospice gardens. As well as
making the best use of the mulch, staff
got down on their knees and did all the
weeding, digging and pruning to help make
the grounds a more beautiful space for patients
to enjoy in the summer months.
Victoria Stockwell,
Environment Agency project manager for the
flood defence scheme, said: "We really
wanted to put the mulch generated when the
trees were removed to make way for the embankment
to good use. By using one of my green leave
days to recycle it for the Sue Ryder hospice
I feel that both the mulch and my time have
contributed to something really special
and worthwhile."
Natalie Riddler, fundraising
manager for Sue Ryder Care, said: “We were
delighted that staff from the Environment
Agency gave up their time to help us with
the gardening at Thorpe Hall and donated
mulch to help maintain our beautiful plants
and flowers. At Sue Ryder Care we care for
people living with serious illnesses as
well as their friends and family and our
gardens bring a great deal of comfort and
pleasure to all our patients and visitors.
We are incredibly grateful for the Environment
Agency’s support.”
New trees will be planted
in St Neots this Autumn to replace those
that were removed at the beginning of the
project as part of the flood defence scheme
to reduce the flood risk to 115 houses in
the area.
