£30,000 flood protection plan for Climping praised

Nick Gibb visited the seafront last Fridayto watch the Environment Agency scheme in action.

He saw its excavators and diggers carry out shingle recycling work to lessen the risk of flooding.

Without coastal maintenance, erosion and movement of shingle could result in more than 110 homes and 15 commercial properties left at an unacceptable risk of flooding.

The maintenance work will continue until the end of the year.

About 28,000 tonnes of shingle will be recycled from the Littlehampton West Beach area and transported two miles to strengthen Climping's flood defences.

The shingle will also bolster the newly-repaired defences at Climping Street damaged in severe storms last March.

James Humphrys, the Environment Agency's area manager, said: "Storms, high winds and severe weather conditions can test our defences at any time of the year. Recycling shingle is the most cost-effective way of maintaining the beach while still allowing the natural coastal processes to continue."

Mr Gibb, the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, said: "It's very important we maintain the sea defences. This operation costs about 30,000. That's money well spent so far as I am concerned.

"This is an operation that has been happening every November and December every year for 30 years. It moves the shingle that has come from Selsey and Pagham and accumulated at West Beach."

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