Warning over delay to vital flood defence work for Pagham

The warning has come from parish councillor Mike Belman.

He told the Pagham annual electors' meeting he believed there was only a 50 per cent chance of the scheme to protect hundreds of homes from flooding being carried out this autumn.

This could leave residents in a large area of the parish at risk for the second winter in a row.

Flooding could affect roads such as Swandene, Conway Drive and The Causeway and wipe out sewage services and the electricity supply. An emergency plan has been compiled to evacuate residents in the worst situation.

The coast protection work is needed because shingle is being taken from the shore in front of the Pagham Beach estate and dumped on a spit after changes to the offshore tidal pattern.

"The current short-term plan, to bring shingle ashore from the offshore spit, which is growing by the minute to replenish the worst areas of loss, apparently has to be started and finished within the six-week period between the summer migrant birds leaving and the winter birds arriving," said Cllr Belman.

"We are also told that, because of delays in processing crucial studies and negotiations, there is only a 50 per cent chance that this essential work will in fact be carried out this autumn.

"We are pushing for it to be carried out as hard as we can. However, if it can be achieved, it is expected to last up to three years and allow time to research a longer-term solution, such as reshaping the harbour mouth, and to investigate ways to finance the necessary engineering works, in line with the 20 year strategy."

Cllr Belman said the status of Pagham Harbour nature reserve meant a mass of UK, European and international legal protection applied to the area. This priority for conservation made it difficult to carry out even vital work. Further timber and rock groynes to add to those already on the beach have been ruled out.

Pagham's county councillor Mike Coleman said he was only slightly more optimistic Pagham's protection would be in place for this winter.

"I would say it's 60:40 we will get what we want this autumn, if the birds will allow us," he stated. "We don't want to get into the bird nesting situation we had last time."

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