Blackpool And The Fylde Coast Strengthening Their Sea Defences

Appropriate news, particularly in view of the storm that has just passed over Britain.  Firstly it has been announced that the well known infrastructure group Balfour Beatty will assist  Blackpool in its defence against stormy seas after winning two contracts worth £73m.

Plans to safeguard Blackpool's coastline

The work in question is for the replacement of  more than a mile of the original 1930s seawall along the area’s famous promenade, home to the Pleasure Beach and the Blackpool Tower. The contract, with Blackpool and neighbouring Wyre councils, will commence this winter and is expected to be completed by 2017.

‘We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with both Blackpool Council and Wyre Council,’ said Balfour chief executive Andrew McNaughton. These schemes will protect over 12,000 properties and local infrastructure from the risk of coastal flooding.’

The funding for the project has been provided by the Environment Agency and is part of an overall £86m scheme to upgrade the area’s coastal defences, which was launched earlier this month.
Meanwhile, details of this £86 million scheme have been announced for the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, with the government approving the funding for flood defences at Rossall and Anchorsholme. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has pledged £64m for defences at Rossall and £22m for Anchorsholme.

The seawalls between Rossall Hospital and Rossall Point and Kingsway to Little Bispham at Anchorsholme, will be improved under the scheme. The funding was raised as a result of a partnership between The Fylde Peninsular Coastal Programme (FPCP), a partnership between Wyre Council, Blackpool Council, Fylde Council and the Environment Agency

Councillor Roger Berry, cabinet member with responsibility for sea defences at Wyre Council, said: "Although Rossall and Anchorsholme are two different schemes in terms of the type of defences required, Wyre Council and Blackpool Council along with the Environment Agency have formed a very fruitful collaboration to ensure the future protection of the Fylde coast."

Councillor Fred Jackson, cabinet member for urban regeneration at Blackpool Council, said: "The reconstruction of the seawall is of huge importance and will protect the community of Anchorsholme, their homes, local businesses and highways from flooding and coastal erosion, whilst improving access to the beach."

The work is expected to be completed in 2015. The FPCP will also be bidding for £17m for sea defences improvements between Fairhaven Lake and Church Scar, Lytham.