£1 MILLION CONFIRMATION FOR FLOOD PROTECTION WORK

The first £1 million funding for a major flood protection scheme for Margate has been confirmed, with work already underway on the scheme.

An update was given to Cabinet Members last night (Thursday 11 November) at their meeting, with the design and procurement of parts of the work already underway. These have been brought forward to try and avoid interfering with the opening of Turner Contemporary.

The second phase of work will get underway in October 2011, starting with strengthening works to the Harbour Arm, which is set to be closed during the winter of 2011 until around the end of March 2012. The other part of the work will see a series of wide steps being added from the beach to the promenade around the Kings Steps area to stop the risk of waves breaking over the sea wall. New floodwalls and floodgates will also be installed. It’s expected that this phase of work will take a total of 18 months.

Cabinet Members were told that £1 million has already been allocated to the project by the Environment Agency. The scheme will cost just over £6.1 million and the remainder of the money is due to be paid over the next two years by the Environment Agency. Although there is no guarantee on the remainder of the funding, the report makes it clear that the investment of £1 million that has already been made in Margate’s defences, makes it “very likely” that the remaining money will be forthcoming to allow the scheme to be completed.

Cllr. Roger Latchford, Cabinet Member for Regeneration Services, said: “It’s really good to see this scheme progressing, as it will provide much needed protection from flooding for Margate Old Town in the future. We’ve done everything we can, in programming this work, to ensure that it doesn’t clash with the opening of Turner Contemporary next year. We will be looking to undertake as much of this work during the winter months as we can to ensure that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.”