More than half-a-million funding secured for Pagham flood defences

The 550,000 has now been formally awarded from central government through the Environment Agency and will allow a two-phased approach to the works to start this month, resulting in extra protection for properties this winter.

Phase one will involve taking up to 10,000 cubic metres of shingle from the Church Norton spit to shore up Pagham Beach against flooding.

The second phase will start next spring and will involve bringing 20,000 cubic metres of shingle in from offshore licensed dredging areas.

Its aim is to increase the level of protection in the most vulnerable area of the beach, near the yacht club.

Councillor Roger Elkins, Arun's cabinet member for community safety with responsibility for emergency planning, said: "Being able to get phase one of this work underway within the next few weeks will offer people living close to this area more protection over the winter months and that was always a priority for us.

"We have completed a study into the erosion at the beach and, as expected, the main cause of the erosion has been confirmed as the build up of the spit on the Church Norton side of the harbour, which has changed wave patterns in the area.

"Unfortunately, the solution is not as simple as just removing the spit and moving the material onto the beach. The area is heavily protected because of the number of very rare birds that live and nest there."

Pagham Harbour and the spits are also part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A contractor has been appointed and works will start as soon as possible, with the maximum benefit being made of the spring tides this month.

It is anticipated the contractor will have about two to three weeks to complete phase one, but work must stop with the arrival of the overwintering Brent Geese to the site.

Because of the tight timescale, work is being allowed on site between 6am and 8pm but the contractor, Dean and Dyball of Ringwood, has pledged to keep disturbance to a minimum.

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