Local MP Alan Mak has welcomed the on-going work of the Environment Agency and Coastal Partners to reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses on Hayling Island.
He joined senior staff from both organisations to inspect flood defences that are protecting people and property at Eastoke and the Southwood Road area of the seafront.
Mr Mak also visited the Northney Road frontage near Langstone Bridge to discuss future flooding challenges in this area and find out what progress was being made to reduce tidal flood risk to homes along the Langstone sea frontage.
The South Hayling Beach Management Plan is funded by the Environment Agency and cuts the risk of tidal flooding to 1,555 residential and 170 commercial properties in Eastoke through careful monitoring, recycling and recharging of shingle which is used to create a flood defence barrier.
This movement of shingle from areas of build-up to areas of erosion helps to restore beach levels and ensure continued protection.
The current seven-year, £3.3m funding cycle ends in March 2024 and Environment Agency funding has been requested for the next cycle, which will run until 2029 at a cost of £5.1m. Mr Mak is backing this funding bid.
Storm events are increasing in intensity and frequency and maintenance of the beach and flood defences is now required twice a year.
The project is managed by Coastal Partners, a partnership formed of five local councils including Havant Borough Council. Its functions include managing flood risk, planning and designing new coastal defence schemes, inspecting and maintaining existing defences and working towards a flood-resilient future.
Meanwhile the separate £15m Langstone Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme will reduce tidal flood risk to 57 homes along the Langstone sea frontage, as well as the northern end of the access road to Hayling Island.
Coastal Partners is also delivering this scheme that involves building new sea walls and has secured Government funding. Construction is currently programmed for spring 2025.
Another £516,000 Government grant has been approved for the overarching Hayling Island Coastal Management Strategy being developed by Coastal Partners with key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency.
This is a key piece of work that will develop strategic coastal management options for Hayling Island for the next 100 years and outline a programme of investment to reduce the risk of coastal flooding and erosion to people and property.
The Environment Agency has provided advice to Coastal Partners on the habitat and environmental aspects of the Hayling Island Coastal Management Strategy and Coastal Partners hopes to get Havant Borough Council approval to submit a finalised strategy to the Environment Agency’s Large Projects Review Group in August 2024.
Mr Mak said: "Government funding has successfully delivered flood defences to protect people and property in Eastoke and South Hayling and I’m backing bids for new funding to ensure this flood protection continues.
"New flood defences are also planned for Langstone in addition to a new 100-year flood defence strategy for Hayling, and I welcome this long-term thinking and infrastructure investment. Thanks to the Environment Agency and Coastal Partners for their hard work throughout the year."
To check your flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings,
- Visit www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk
- Call Floodline for updates on 0345 988 1188
- Follow @EnvAgencySE on X/Twitter
