23/05/2005 - Work starts
next week on the Environment Agency’s £900,000
tidal defence scheme for Lympstone on the
Exe Estuary in East Devon.
Low lying parts of the popular village with
its pretty passageways and slipways to the
foreshore are at risk of tidal flooding from
the river. Although a series of ad-hoc stop
boards has helped prevent serious problems
since 1972 the storms at the end of last October
were a very close call for some.
There are 125 properties including 36 listed
buildings, doctors’ surgery, church and eight
local businesses at risk. At a public exhibition
in the village sailing club 88 percent of
attendees agreed that the tidal defences needed
improving.
Now contractors, Mowlem Civil Engineering,
will construct a series of improvements to
the harbour area, in front of Harefield Cottages
and Peters Tower, on The Green and a series
of gates in the passageways down to far end
of Quay Lane. The stone groyne will also be
reinforced to help deflect waves. The scheme
is due for completion this autumn.
"Lympstone is a challenge for us due
to the number of ways the river can make its
way through the narrow passageways and slipways
into the village plus the need to maintain
the unique character of the area," explained
Graham Buxton-Smith for the Environment Agency
"Unusually we will be putting in six
new floodgates as well as ramps to help protect
the village from tidal flooding. In a special
agreement with the parish council local people
will close the gates when a high tide is due.
"We will make every effort to minimise
disruption while the work is being done but
unfortunately there is bound to be some inconvenience
to local residents and visitors. We hope everyone
will bear with us."
Mowlems will start setting up their compound
in the village car park from Monday, May 23
and work will start in the village harbour
from Tuesday, May 31. A notice board with
the detailed programme and contact information
will be at the car park compound in Underhill.
Lympstone tidal defence scheme has been designed
by consultants Atkins and has been developed
in co-operation with Lympstone Parish Council.
The work has been funded by through the Environment
Agency.
The Exe Estuary is of national and international
importance and is protected by designations
including as a Special Protection Area (SPA),
Ramsar site and Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI). English Nature is satisfied
the new tidal defences will not affect the
site’s integrity or their conservation objectives.
