Adur tidal wall scheme to take more than two years to build

THE SHOREHAM and Adur tidal wall scheme will need to factor in that property numbers in the area are expected to double in the next 100 years, according to the scheme’s project manager.
SH 081114 Adur Tidal Walls flood defence scheme consultation. Keely Mowatt (Adur tidal walls project team) taking to Edith Leslie. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-141011-112219001SH 081114 Adur Tidal Walls flood defence scheme consultation. Keely Mowatt (Adur tidal walls project team) taking to Edith Leslie. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-141011-112219001
SH 081114 Adur Tidal Walls flood defence scheme consultation. Keely Mowatt (Adur tidal walls project team) taking to Edith Leslie. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-141011-112219001

James Fuller, who is heading the £25m project, attended the Adur county local committee meeting to provide an 
update.

Mr Fuller said: “We’re looking to protect against a one in 300 year tidal flood – a very dramatic tidal event.”

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The scheme that is designed to protect 2,328 residential properties and 169 commercial properties, will also have to take into consideration that the number of properties in the area is likely to double in the next 100 years, said Mr Fuller.

Separated into ten reaches, the scheme will redevelop tidal walls in the Shoreham and Lancing areas; all will be subject to different pressures and potential flood impacts.

The steel sheet piling flood walls will be cladded in a variety of different ways.

“There are other public realm enhancements which are linked to the scheme, and in addition to that there will be a road raising undertaken across the Steyning Road up towards the Cloverleaf Roundabout,” said Mr Fuller.

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At the meeting, Mr Fuller reviewed much of the work that is expected to be done among the ten reaches.

He said there was currently a small gap in the defence at the Ropetackle development and raised flower beds would be put in place to complete the defence level.

The old railway reach will run from the disused railway line towards the Cloverleaf Roundabout. Here, it will require a 1.6 metre raising in places along the Steyning Road, which will require a six-week road closure.

Councillor Lionel Parsons said that when driving over Cloverleaf Roundabout and looking west at the river, he had witnessed at spring tides the water level nine inches away from the top of the bank.

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Councillor Janet Mockridge added that she had seen water rise over the top of the embankment.

Mr Fuller said: “If we’re talking about the north of the flyover protecting the rural land, the focus of the project is primarily to protect properties. The wider strategic work to come from the back of this project will be the embankments that sit north of the highway.”

Soldier’s Point car park is reaching completion and there will be improvement works undertaken at the Riverside car park.

A floodgate will be installed at the Ferry Bridge reach to maintain the existing access arrangements for the house boat and public hard.

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Mr Fuller said the aesthetics at the Riverbank reach were a work in progress. Here, a proposed wall would be running landward of the existing tow path at 1.2 meters high.

“There’s been significant engagement on the works in this reach, I can’t stress that enough,” added Mr Fuller.

At the Adur Recreation Ground, the embankments will be raised around Lancing Brook to the western end of the reach, and a flood wall will be created on the river side of the Adur Outdoor Activity Centre.

The Shoreham Airport reach will have a wall constructed river side of the existing defences.

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Mr Fuller said: “We will be demolishing the existing embankment in this location and moving it landward by ten metres, maintaining the existing ditch for drainage and habitat purposes.”

The planning application for the tidal flood scheme is due for submission to Adur District Council this October.

Two final public exhibitions on the scheme were held this week in Shoreham.

The Environment Agency is hoping to begin construction in early 2016, with an estimated construction phase of more than two years.

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