PREPATORY work on a flood barrier to protect Ipswich is set to go ahead after around £4million was put aside for the project.
PREPATORY work on a flood barrier to protect Ipswich is set to go ahead after around £4million was put aside for the project.
The cash will allow for a feasibility study to take place to decide where the structure should be so that detailed plans can be drawn up.
Last year the Evening Star revealed that a barrier costing an initial £35million is needed at the Waterfront to protect the town from rapidly-rising sea levels.
A report on the issue showed that thousands of people will be vulnerable to the danger of surge flooding if nothing is done.
Richard Atkins, responsible for planning at Ipswich Borough Council, said: “The early work can be done to look at what the location should be.
“You can then start to get a more detailed cost.
“In the coming year some of the initial assessment work can be started.”
The proposed barrier would protect 2,500 properties in the area as well as a further 3,000 that are yet
to be built.
Ipswich has a long history of flooding, most seriously in 1939 and 1953.
The town is currently protected from flooding by a system of flood defences which is expected to reach the end of its life between 2012 and 2017.
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