Brighton and Hove Greens urge government to fund coastal defences bill

The Greens are calling on the government to fund coastal defences along a stretch of seafront that includes Brighton and Hove.

Their call comes as councils along the Sussex coast draw up and consult the public about a plan to protect the seafront between the River Adur and Brighton Marina.

Green councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council estimate the bill at about £7 million.

But they say that they receive funding only to maintain existing sea defences rather than build new ones.

Councillor Pete West, chairman of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee who also sits on the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, spoke out about the issue.

He proposed an increase of 2 per cent in contributions from local authorities to coastal defence work but the proposal was rejected by the other organisations.

Green councillors are also raising funding for environmental policy and regulation at the full council meeting at Hove Town Hall tomorrow (Thursday 30 January).

In a motion they are expressing concern about cuts at the Environment Agency which carries out work on sea defences in Sussex.

Councillor West said: “The recent stormy weather has shown how important it is that we invest in protecting our coastline.

“In Sussex alone we saw cliff-falls, storm surges and flooding.

“We know that the greatest threat to the UK from climate change is the increased risk of flooding.

“Yet government cuts to the Environment Agency mean they will lose about 1,700 staff members in the next 12 months, 550 of whom work on preventing and mitigating flooding.

“Brighton and Hove’s location as a coastal city at the foot of the Downs puts us at risk.

“We’re putting together a new strategy for coastal protection but we need national support to design defences and funding to build them.

“The government should not just maintain, but instead increase funding for coastal and flood defences.

“I hope that the government listens to sense and properly funds this crucial work while also doing more to combat climate change.”