Coastal project funding confirmed (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Coastal project funding confirmed

10:17am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Lyme Regis

FUNDING for coastal protection and flood management has been confirmed for projects in Lyme Regis and Charmouth.

Communities across the south west will benefit from £25.3million capital funding this year to help protect them against the risk of flooding.

A further £17.7million has been allocated in the region to cover Environment Agency maintenance and project work.

It means funding has been confirmed for phase four of the Lyme Regis coastal protection works, which will protect the East Cliff and homes, businesses, roads and utilities in the area.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “When you have this type of beach project you get the money in chunks that’s released from Defra to us.

“Once a year the money is released and is earmarked for certain projects.

“This is confirmation that money has come for this project so we will be able to complete the work.”

Funding has also been confirmed for the ongoing monitoring of the Cobb, which is phase five of the works.

Charmouth will benefit as £35,000 is secured for the property level protection scheme, allowing houses at risk of flooding to take measures to protect themselves.

The spokesman said: “If you have got a property in a place that is liable to flooding but you’ve got no chance of getting a scheme, you can apply for money to protect your own home, measures such as flood doors and flood gates.

“People apply to the local authority and we would release the money to the local authority.”

Charmouth flood warden Mike Whatmore said residents who have been flooded before have already put in applications with West Dorset District Council.

He said: “It’s for fairly minor things, not for repairs after flooding, but for prevention with things like plugs for toilets or plugs for air vents.”