Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe Coastal Flood Defence Work Funding Secured

A beach management programme which helps protect more than 3,000 coastal homes and businesses from flooding is to continue.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s successful bid for £2.35m of Environment Agency funding means shingle between Fisherman’s Beach and Folkestone Harbour will be recycled and regraded biannually for the next five years.

This technique has been used since 2004 and is currently the most cost-effective way of protecting the 7km stretch of coastline. It also offers far superior flood and erosion defence than the old timber groynes.

Many of them are still hidden below the current level of recycled shingle and do not contain the adequate amount of material to shield the coastline or cope against rising sea levels.

Tim Prater, Councillor for Sandgate and West Folkestone, said:

"The beach management works have a provable history of success. Long term residents will tell you that before 2004 Sandgate often flooded from the sea. The Esplanade was regularly closed due to sea and shingle coming over the top. Since the beach management scheme started, it has not happened. It just works.

“The recycling and regrading of 160,000m³ of shingle offers provably effective and important protection against coastal flooding to thousands of residents.

“I'm delighted the Environment Agency money has been secured to ensure the beach management programme remains.”