Warnings of Ipswich floods as climate crisis worsens

Speaking at town's tidal barrier, chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, said the organisation trusts the flood defence to protect residents for now, but warned that flooding could become “more extreme and more frequent” as a result of climate change.

"This initiative was put in place to protect over 1,600 homes and over 420 businesses across the town," he said.

"It has been designed to protect for the long-term and against our best estimates of what climate change could bring us in the foreseeable future."

Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency (Image: William Warnes, Newsquest)

He added: “We can never do enough to be absolutely sure because of course the risk of climate change means that we risk more floods, more serious and more frequent.

“But we can do our best and we have done a lot all the way up the east coast because of a clear risk of surges from the North Sea.”

The tidal barrier opened in 2019 and cost £67million to build. 

At its centrepiece is a 200-tonne rotating barrier which can be raised in minutes, helping to keep the town safe from tidal surges during storms.

Mr Lovell described climate change as a "great risk facing us all" and urged residents to do "whatever they can to make a difference".

"So far, we haven't had to use the barrier in anger," he said.

"But a serious incident could happen at any time so people must be prepared.

The tidal barrier was opened in 2019 and cost £67 million to build (Image: Newsquest)

"We urge everyone to look at the risks to their own homes and take appropriate action.

"Particularly this week, Flood Awareness Week, what we're asking people to do is to prepare.

"Finding out the risk to your home can be done on our website. You can also sign up to our flood alert system which will alert you when there's a risk to your home and when to take appropriate action."