Flooding and coastal change - Flood defences given a health check after the wettest winter on record
11 Apr 2014 04:39 PM
Flood defences have been checked for damage and any
repairs and maintenance that may be needed. Some of the worst hit flood assets
were found along the South Coast, where flood defences were seriously put to
the test.
The
tidal surge in December, combining high spring tides with a coastal surge,
resulted in significant waves hitting the coastline. This put a large amount of
pressure on coastal defences stretching from North Kent right around the south
coast and across to Hampshire.
The
south coast was battered by months of successive tidal surges and winter
storms, causing thousands of tonnes of shingle to be lost from coastal
defences.
More than 40,000 tonnes of shingle returned to Kent
coastline
In
Kent, the Denge frontage near Camber was severely affected by the storms.
Throughout the winter, Environment Agency staff carried out emergency works to
shore up the defences and reduce the risk of flooding to thousands of homes
across Romney Marsh.
In
total more than 40,000 tonnes of shingle was returned along this stretch of the
coastline. The Denge frontage directly protects 1,102 residential and 130
non-residential properties, and also helps to protect 14,500 homes across
Romney Marsh. Profiling works were completed on 4 April 2014.
Further along the Kent coastline sea defences at Hythe
Ranges were breached. The Environment Agency has worked closely with the
Ministry of Defences and contractors to stabilise the beach and repair the
damage. This work completed has reduced the risk of flooding to 68 mobile
homes, 21 residential properties the A259 and the MOD range.
Repairs in East & West Sussex
December’s tidal surge was the highest ever
recorded at Rye Harbour in East Sussex and it overtopped an access road used by
the Environment Agency to carry out shingle recharge at the Pett Beach
frontage. The overtopping caused damage to a 160-metre section of the road,
with 40 metres being completely washed away. Environment Agency officers and
contractors repaired the defence within two weeks to ensure the Pett defences
were in a good condition for the next high tides.
The
Environment Agency has also been working hard around the West Sussex coastline,
moving 250,000 tonnes of shingle, principally at Lancing and Elmer. Following
inspections, more than 20 sites have been identified in Hampshire that require
repair work. This month Environment Agency officers have carried out emergency
works at Lepe Outfall along the New Forest coastline, where the outfall has
been undermined by severe wave action, causing the concrete structure to
collapse.
East Hampshire emergency work
In
East Hampshire, Southmoor Seawall in Brockhampton experienced considerable
damage to the seawall face and sections of the concrete wave return wall have
been broken. Emergency work has started to ensure the seawall is safe and
structurally sound.
Operations Manager Mike O’Neill
said:
The
Environment Agency’s flood defences were put to the test during months of
successive tidal surges. Our teams have worked around the clock over the past
few months repairing damage and maintaining flood defences to ensure they
continue to protect people.
We
have seen the devastation flooding has had on communities throughout the last
year. That’s why it is crucial that we regularly maintain and repair
flood defences to keep them working properly. We have replaced hundreds of
thousands of tonnes of shingle over recent months.
Environment Agency teams will continue to inspect and
repair defences over the coming months to ensure they are maintained and are
ready to reduce the risk of flooding.