|
The current sea wall in Weston is over 120 years
old. It cannot give the protection the town needs from major
storms. The Marine Lake causeway is 80 years old and needs
repair.
The 120 year old Victorian sea wall does not provide adequate
protection from storms which could flood the town with sea
water.
The 80 year old Marine Lake causeway is now in poor condition
and beginning to erode. If the causeway disappeared we would lose
the fantastic experience of walking between the lake and the
sea.
Without the causeway the town would also be exposed to even
bigger waves and more flooding. In additon, the lake structure is
tired and in need of a face lift.
It is estimated that current defences provide only a one in five
year standard of protection. This means a 20% chance of flooding
each year. The standard required by government for sea defences is
one in 200 years - a 0.5% chance of flooding.
4,500 properties in Weston are at risk of flooding from the sea.
These include homes, some of which are basements below sea level,
and business premises.
Flooding would affect the seafront area, the town centre and
could flow inland as far as Hutton Moor. The seafront has been
severely damaged by storms in 1903, 1981, 1990 and
1996. |