Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve flood defences in (a) Jaywick, (b) St Osyth, (c) Point Clear and (d) other high-risk areas in Clacton constituency.
Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after winter flood season. The Government is investing over £1.25 billion in 2024/25 to build and maintain flood defences to scale up national resilience. We continue to target investment where it’s most needed to ensure that communities are protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal erosion. In Jaywick, the Environment Agency (EA) recently completed the £12 million Cockett Wick seawall improvement scheme, ensuring 3,000 homes and businesses are better protected from tidal flooding. At Point Clear, the EA is developing a scheme to strengthen flood defences, investing £3.5 million by 2029. In Walton-on-the-Naze, the EA is delivering a £1.1 million scheme to improve the resilience of flood defences, and contributing £170,000 to support works to other defences in this area. In Clacton constituency, including St Osyth, the EA spends £300,000 annually for routine operation and maintenance of flood defences. It will also be contributing £200,000 to support works delivered by Essex County Council between 2025-2028 to reduce the risk of flooding from surface water.