£47m promised to bolster flood defences

Lancashire is set to receive £47.5m to improve its flood defences and minimise the risk of coastal erosion.

Two projects, located on the Bisham and Blackpool coastline will see about £32m to sure up its coastal erosion programmes whilst Preston and South Ribble will receive just over £15m for its natural flood defence schemes - seeking to protect 5,000 homes when complete.

The move forms part of a wider £1.4bn investment programme from the Environment Agency, promising to protect "tens of thousands" of homes and businesses nationwide.

The government agency said every £1 invested in flood defence prevents £8 in economic damage - thus hoping to save "billions" of pounds in potential costs.

Among the methods being used will be the installation of natural flood defences, including 'leaky barriers', which the Environment Agency said would protect homes in Clitheroe, Lancashire.

The Ribble Rivers Trust which had installed the barriers, said they helped to slow and delay flooding in a more natural way than traditional flood defences.

Jack Spees, CEO said there were three natural flood risk management schemes in Lancashire, helping to protect propertes in Clitheroe, Darwen and Wrae Green, all funded by the Environment Agency.

Spees said: "In Darwen, we worked with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to fund peat restoration to keep the rain that falls there as long as possible.

"We've done some tree planting too - they help water to infiltrate the soil and makes the surface of the ground rougher so it slows water flow".

He also said his team had installed several attenuation ponds at Blacksnape playing fields in Darwen which captured rainwater.

"With the predicted impact of climate change, flood risk is set to worsen, particulary in these locations", Spees said.

The introduction of natural flood defences "complements" traditional flood defences, like concrete walls, to help mitigate flooding whilst also benefitting the environment.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: "Flooding can turn lives upside down in a matter of hours, destroying homes, shutting down businesses and leaving communities facing months of heartbreak and recovery".

Caroline Douglass, from the Environment Agency added: "Homes and businesses will benefit from stronger defences with more than 600 schemes being delivered across England, from major flood barriers and strengthened embankments to natural flood management and coastal defence projects".

Spees said the move to create a specific pot of funding for natural flood defences in the UK, introduced earlier this year which organisations can apply for, was a "great step forward".

He added however his desire to see "better integration" between existing schemes, which would help to "compensate" farmers to deliver food but also reduce flood risks to local communities.

The increased funding for Lancashire comes after the region saw widespread damage in Storms Chandra and Goretti earlier this year, whilst six years ago residents in Whalley were evacuated after heavy flooding on Boxing Day 2020.

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