Pagham residents assured of protection from floods

Some 400 people packed the latest display about protecting the area from the sea.

They went along to the Environment Agency exhibition at St Ninian's Church Hall to find out how the threat of beach erosion could be tackled.

EA figures show 397 properties in Pagham currently at risk from flooding or erosion if defences are not maintained along the vulnerable Pagham Beach estate.

That number increases to 451 in 20 years' time, 724 in half a century and 1,592 after 100 years.

The agency's latest proposed strategy for the Pagham frontage, on show in the exhibition, is for the flexible response of 'adaptive management' at a cost of 7m in the next 20 years.

This is a change from the previous strategy of holding the line of the existing defences which was backed by local people at an exhibition in February 2007.

But Gordon Wilson, the agency's strategy management team leader, said: "Adaptive management could mean holding the line. It does not mean we will not do that.

"At the moment, until we understand the processes that are working here in the sea, we can't be sure about what the best approach is.

"We will do what is necessary to defend the people of Pagham. Funding will be an issue because there is never going to be enough to do what everyone wants around the country. But, if we feel there is an increasing risk to Pagham, we will propose works to deal with that."

That could include replenishing the eroding beach along East Front Road and West Front Road or improved defences within Pagham Harbour.

He said 1.3m had been secured from the government towards any future works. However, he warned some flooding could occur in Pagham in the coming winter.

He commented: "The risk to Pagham this winter is not really different to what it was last winter and the winter before.

"There is the same protection provided by the defences here. If we have a very severe event, like we did on March 10, it is possible the defences will be over-topped.

"That could happen next winter which is why Arun District Council have some emergency evacuation plans just in case. They have to be prepared but there is nothing to panic about."

Arun has hired consultants to carry out a study into the changing tidal patterns around Pagham which have caused the beach to erode.

The previous five-yearly cycle of shingle being deposited there has been broken for no apparent reason. The stones are instead being deposited on an offshore spit.

David Green, Arun's head of infrastructure, works and engineering, said the consultant was expected to produce a draft report in August. The final version should be ready in November.

This would recommend action to ensure the sea defences would be maintained.

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