Work starts on flood protection scheme for Starcross and Cockwood

News Desk
Authored by News Desk
Posted Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - 2:10pm

More than 660 homes and businesses in Starcross and Cockwood will be better protected from coastal flooding as work starts (8 January 2018) on a new £4 million flood scheme.

In Starcross the Environment Agency will install two new floodgates at Church Road and Generals Lane slipway. They will also raise the car park levels at the Fishing and Cruising Club.

In Cockwood the harbour wall will be improved with a raised level along Dawlish Road in line with predicted sea level rises. Work is expected to take around six months and be finished by summer.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "The storms hitting our coast in the past week demonstrate the importance of tidal defences. We are making a number of improvements to increase the level of flood protection in this area. Across England we are investing £2.6 billion in over 1,500 flood and coastal schemes to help protect homes and businesses at risk. This important scheme has been designed to reduce the risk of tidal flooding to more than 660 residential and commercial properties."

Cllr Lisa Mayne, Teignbridge district councillor for Dawlish Central and North East, said: “I’m pleased that work has started on this vital scheme, which will help to protect hundreds of homes and businesses at risk of flooding in Starcross and Cockwood.

“Tidal defences are crucial in areas like ours, as highlighted by the recent storms that caused significant damage around the South West coast.

“This £4million scheme follows hot on the heels of the opening of the £12million project at Dawlish Warren, demonstrating the government’s commitment to protecting communities at risk of flooding.”

From 8 January the road around Cockwood harbour, including Church Road and Dawlish Warren road, will be closed to traffic to allow work to be carried out and to ensure public safety. Pedestrians will continue to have access.

Works and road closures have been timed to avoid school holidays and the summer season but we apologise for any inconvenience the closures cause.

Construction of the Starcross and Cockwood tidal defence scheme begins just a few weeks after the £12m Dawlish Warren beach management scheme was opened by Michael Gove. The Dawlish Warren scheme provides increased flood protection to around 2,800 properties in the Exe estuary. Once complete, the Starcross and Cockwood tidal defence scheme is expected to further reduce flood risk for over 660 properties.

Share this