Flood work to start in new year

Harvey Bradshaw, Kent and East Sussex area manager for the Environment Agency, told Lewes MP Norman Baker that detailed design work will start in January 2008 and construction work is due to begin in the summer.

The construction work will proceed in stages, with the section downstream of the Phoenix Causeway to be completed first, followed by the section downstream of the High Street Bridge to the Rowing Club which will start in 2009.

It is planned to be completed by 2011.

Mr Baker said: 'It is good at last to have a start date for the long overdue start to the Cliffe flood defences. Better late than never.

'There will, however, still be areas of Lewes which have inadequate defences, even after the Cliffe scheme is completed, and I will continue to campaign for these areas to be addressed by the Environment Agency.'

Mr Bradshaw is due to tour Lewes with the MP to discuss the flood issues and the Environment Agency's plans.