PRESS RELEASE : £7 million beach management reduces flood risk for Lincolnshire [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 10 May 2023.

Annual works by the Environment Agency to reduce the risk of flooding for Lincolnshire’s coastal communities has now started (8 May).

Over the next 6 to 7 weeks, around 400,000 cubic metres of sand will be topped up on beaches between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point. Thus, reducing the risk of flooding for Lincolnshire’s coastal communities.

The Environment Agency’s annual beach management sees sand dredged from licensed areas of the seabed. This is then pumped onto the beach to replace levels naturally lost to the sea throughout the year. This reduces the risk of flooding for 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans and 35,000 hectares of land.

Replenishing the sand means that the beaches, instead of hard defences like sea walls, take the brunt of the waves’ force and energy. This reduces the amount of damage and erosion to those hard defences and lessens the risk of water overtopping them.

The Environment Agency has been restoring sand levels on the Lincolnshire coast every year since 1994. In addition to reducing flood risk, the work brings supplementary social and economic benefits by retaining the sandy beaches for a vibrant tourism industry.

Deborah Campbell, Flood Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

As well as reducing the risk of flooding to 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans and 35,000 hectares of land. The work helps maintain the county’s sandy beaches for us all to enjoy.

But despite our best efforts, flooding can still happen. That’s why we urge people to prepare and plan for the worst, including by signing up to receive free flood warnings.

Starting at Huttoft on 8 May, the work will progress along the coast in stages at these approximate dates (subject to change):

• Huttoft, 8 to 12 May.
• Mablethorpe, 13 to 15 May.
• Trusthorpe, 16 to 23 May.
• Sutton on Sea, 24 to 25 May.
• Boygrift, 26 to 31 May.
• Chapel Six Marshes, 1 June to 5 June.
• Trunch Lane, 6 June to 11 June.
• Ingoldmells, 11 June to 15 June.
• Wolla Bank, 15 June to 18 June.

People visiting these beaches on days that work is under way are asked to stay clear of the worksites.
The £7 million beach management work is funded as part of the Environment Agency’s capital programme. The programme is a record £5.2 billion government investment in England’s flood and coastal defences to better protect hundreds of thousands of properties by 2027.

The Environment Agency urges people to plan ahead for flooding. They can find out if their property is in an at-risk area by signing up for free flood warnings. Further information on all these steps and more is available at GOV.UK/Flood and by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.