WORKS to protect 65 homes in West Wittering from flooding in the future are going ‘full steam ahead’, the Environment Agency has said.

Residents and the community in the Witterings managed to raise an incredible £150,000 to help pay for the defence works.

The homes will be protected by raising the current embankment on the shore with clay. Preparation construction works have started but will not be implemented on the beach until April when birds stop nesting there. (more…)

While other areas of public sector spending are being slashed, coastal defences remain a spending priority.  Phil Bishop reports on a sector keeping its head above water.

Coastal defences is only a niche market for civil engineering contractors but so far appears unthreatened by cuts likely to affect other areas of public spending.

A recent reorganisation of responsibilities now sees all the money passed through the Environment Agency (EA) rather than directly to local authorities from Defra. Acting as gatekeeper, the EA determines priorities and either acts as client directly or funds the local authorities, depending on the project. (more…)