Friday 27 May 2011

Sea flood defence

Plans for a major flood protection scheme for Margate have been passed
to council officers to approve.

The proposals were considered by the council’s Planning Committee
last night (Wednesday 25 May). In total, they looked at four separate
planning applications, between them covering the seafront from Marine
Gardens to Turner Contemporary, along with the Harbour Arm.

The first application is to construct a series of wide steps from the
beach to the promenade around the Kings Steps area to stop the risk of
waves breaking over the sea wall. The sturgeon lights would be removed
from the existing wall and put back when the new wall is completed. A
second application asked for Conservation Area Consent to partially
demolish the seawall, so that this work could be carried out.

The other two applications both relate to strengthening and repair
works along the Harbour Arm, with sheet piling put into the chalk around
the pier wall and below its base. This would be finished off with a
concrete cap.

The Planning Committee decided to defer the final decision to officers,
with a recommendation that the plans be approved, subject to Natural
England confirming that they have no objection to the scheme on the
grounds of ecology.

Local businesses and residents can find out more about what’s being
planned at two drop-in sessions being held by the council in June. Both
will be held at the Margate Media Centre in King Street, with the first
taking place on Thursday 16 June, from 5.00pm to 8.00pm and the second
on Tuesday 21 June, from 2.00pm until 5.00pm. The work is planned to
take place over the coming year, further details of which will be
available at the drop in sessions.

The Environment Agency has already put £1 million into the project,
which will cost just over £6.1 million. The remainder of the money is
due to be paid over the next two years by the Environment Agency. The
planned scheme would increase protection along this part of the Margate
coastline considerably, from a one in 20 year flooding event to a one in
200 year flooding event.

2 comments:

  1. I was at that meeting and there was no discussion of what will change the look of Margate for a very long time. Some of the implications can be seen already around the Rendevous area beside Turner Contemporary. A Stepped Ravetment will make a huge diffence and bacause the Environment Agency were paying no one even asked any questions, shame on you Thanet

    ReplyDelete
  2. Did you ask any questions Lynn?

    ReplyDelete

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