Flood schemes cash from government welcomed by council

Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Operational Highways and Flooding, has welcomed confirmation by the Environment Agency of funding for flood relief schemes in Suffolk.

The agency has announced that it will be spending £68 million on projects across East Anglia, of which flood schemes in Suffolk have been allocated more than £14 million.

Councillor West said: “This is very good news as it means Suffolk County Council can continue to develop and deliver these important flood relief schemes,” he said.

“We have seen the devastating impact flooding can have on our communities and we know that we have to take measures to protect against it in the future, so I am very happy to see our schemes are being supported financially by the Environment Agency.”

Suffolk County Council projects to receive funding are the Sudbury Surface Water Flood Alleviation Scheme, which receives £300,000, while Leiston Surface Flood Water receives £202,000.

The Sudbury scheme will add another flood storage basin to one SCC constructed in 2022 which will reduce the flood risk for more than 20 homes.

The Leiston scheme will provide property level flood protection to a total of 40 households in the town and some surrounding villages that have either experienced internal flooding, or are at high risk of flooding. Homeowners have already received an initial survey and installation is expected to commence in the summer. Suffolk County Council is contributing £58,000 of project management support to deliver this work.

We have also completed a SuDs in Schools project, working in partnership with Anglian Water and Department for Education at three schools, including the High School in Leiston. The project has resulted in flood attenuation measures such as flood storage basins, rain gardens, and planters that store water from downpipes. It has also provided educational resources so pupils can use the features to study the curriculum. The overall project will cost £190,000, with £180,000 of this secured from external partners.

The Benacre and Kessingland flood risk management scheme receives £10,105,000 of funding from the Environment Agency.

This is a £64m project that will ensure the A12 is protected from coastal flooding, it is being implemented by Waveney, Lower Yare and Lothingland Internal Drainage Board but Suffolk County Council has provided £2 million and agreed to underwrite a further £2.7m to enable it to proceed.

Flood resilience schemes in Needham Market and Debenham as a result of Storm Babet also get funding - £560,000 in Needham Market and £81,000.

These projects, led by the Environment Agency, will fund flood doors and other measures to prevent flood water entering individual properties.

Suffolk County Council supported the EA to identify affected homes and promote the availability of this funding.

The council’s Flood Investigations and Grants Team also administers a separate grant fund specifically to support those properties flooded during Storm Babet. This grant closes for new applications in May.