UK’s flood defences receive a health check

As reported elsewhere in this column, work is underway repairing inland damage in the aftermath of the UK’s exceptional winter weather. South East coastal flood defences in particular received a battering and recent inspection and repair measures by the EA covers North Kent, right around the south coast to Hampshire. In addition to storm damage, successive tidal surges caused thousands of tonnes of shingle to be lost from coastal defences.

The Denge frontage near Camber in Kent was severally affected with thousands of homes across the Romney Marsh put at risk. In total more than 40,000 tonnes of shingle has been returned to the coastline. Further along the Kent coast, sea defences at Hythe Ranges were breached and EA staff had to work closely with the Ministry of Defence and contractors to stabilise the beach and repair the damage. At risk here were 68 mobile homes, 21 residential properties, an MOD range and an important coastal link road.

In East Sussex an access road used to carry out shingle recharge at the Pett Beach frontage was damaged when overtopped by the highest tide ever recorded at Rye Harbour. Forty metres of the 120m long damaged section was completely washed away and contractors working again with EA staff were able to repair the damage within a two week period. Along the West Sussex coastline, 250,000 tonnes of shingle have been moved to return the coastal profile to its normal condition, principally at Lancing and Elmer. Inspections have identified more than 20 sites in Hampshire requiring repair work. The Lepe Outfall along the New Forest coastline was undermined by severe wave action, causing the concrete structure to collapse. Emergency work was put in hand to repair the damage.

In East Hampshire, Southmoor Seawall in Brockhampton suffered damage to the seawall face and concrete wave return wall. Yet another example of where EA staff and contractors have worked together repairing damage in a timely manner, reducing the potential of additional damage from any subsequent bad weather.

By Peter Barker