by Jo Sword

Nine thousand homes in a part of East Kent are at risk of flooding.

The Environment Agency has named the Shepway district within their top 10 list of areas with the highest number of properties that could be affected by flooding.

The organisation says 24 per cent of the area lies under the high water level and could be seriously affected should there be a large sea storm.

In a bid to stop properties being affected the Environment Agency is undertaking a £60 million flood defence scheme in Dymchurch to protect around 2,000 homes there.

In a report out today the organisation says one in six homes in England is at risk of flooding and spending on maintaining and building flood defences needs to increase to £1 billion a year by 2035.

The report goes on to say that if money is not spent on defences then costs as a result of disruption, damage to infrastructure and loss of business could rise from £2.5 billion to £4 billion countrywide by 2035.

Mark Tinnion, the regional flood and coastal risk manager for the southern region is urging homeowners in ‘at risk’ areas to sign up to the Environment Agency’s flood warning service.

He said: “The likelihood of a tidal flood we can predict pretty well because it usually involves high astronomical tides together with a surge. So we are in a position to give out good flood warnings."

The Environment Agency’s flood warning service number: 0845 988 1188