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Flood defences tested at Sandwich Quay

by Jo Earle

State-of-the-art flood defences in Sandwich have been put to the test during an Environment Agency emergency exercise this morning.

The defences, designed to protect 32 homes in the Quay area, were set up to offer temporary protection to reduce flood risk.

The portable flood protection measures are demountable, so they can be removed after the danger has passed.

The defences offer temporary protection to reduce flood risk until the permanent defences identified in the Pegwell Bay to Kingsdown Coastal Flood Risk Strategy (link here to the environment agency’s strategy ) have been built, and a permanent wall incorporated on the Quay.

Paul Marshall, from the Environment Agency in the South East, said: “We do know that Sandwich will flood in this area. Over the next 15 years we would anticipate flood levels will rise.

"We do have a major scheme that will protect the whole of Sandwich, but until that point we have these barriers in to protect local defence.

“These barriers are a new concept. The key thing about these temporary barriers is they are light and easily put together.”

Anyone concerned about flooding can find out more from the environment agency website www.environmentagency.gov.uk