Shoring up the Lincolnshire shoreline ... £7m scheme to replenish county beaches returns

An annual scheme to shore up the Lincolmshire shoreline has returned. Picture: Environment Agency

The £7m Environment Agency project involves sand being dredged from the seabed and pumped onto the beach to replace levels lost to the sea during the winter.

Replenishing this sand means the beaches take the brunt of the waves’ force and energy, instead of hard defences like sea walls.

This helps protect these hard defences, which in turn help protect 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans, and 35,000 hectares of land from flooding.

Deborah Campbell, east coast flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, said: “This vital work reduces the risk of flooding to homes and businesses on the coast, and we’re delighted it is able to go ahead in line with the Government’s coronavirus guidance.

“All our staff, contractors and partners will practise social distancing and follow Public Health England’s guidance for safe working.

“And as well as helping protect people from flooding, the work will also help maintain our beloved sandy beaches so they’ll be ready to welcome back locals and tourists alike, when it’s safe for visitors to return.

“Meanwhile, while people remain at home, we’d remind you to please sign up for free flood warnings at www.gov.uk/flood to help protect your families if flooding is expected.”

Over the next six weeks, more than 400,000 cubic metres of sand will be pumped back onto beaches between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point, including Trusthorpe, Mablethorpe, Ingoldmells, Trunch Lane, Wolla Bank, Chapel Six Marshes, and Huttoft; local people who may be visiting their beach are asked to stay clear of the worksites.

The Environment Agency has been restoring sand levels on the Lincolnshire coast each year since 1994.

It says, however, while the work continues to be effective, long-term estimates suggest that the impact of climate change will mean continuing to use sand alone as a method of managing flood risk will not be sustainable.

As such, a new strategy is being developed. The preferred option is currently to use structures alongside beach nourishment, but details are yet to be decided - read more at https://tinyurl.com/ycc9e5ko