The Environment Agency is doing groundwork investigations to
better understand the composition and condition of the embankment
that covers 1.7km along Embankment Road, from Bembridge sailing
club to St Helens.
The coastal defences along Embankment Road are ageing, with some
sections reaching the end of their useful life. If nothing is
done to repair these, over time there will be an increased risk
of failure in the form of a breach.
This would adversely impact the B3395 and the footpath alongside
Bembridge Harbour. It would also lead to tidal flooding in the
low-lying land of Brading Marshes nature reserve. The RSPB site
is recognised internationally for its freshwater habitat and
saline lagoons and is an important site for wintering and nesting
birds in the Solent.
Emily Gordon, a programme manager at the Environment Agency in
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said:
From 21 September to 6 October there will be two-way traffic
management which will last for approximately 2 weeks. This is to
allow space for specialist equipment and a safe working space for
our staff. We have worked with Isle of Wight Council and Island
Roads to reduce the number of road closures as much as possible,
and there will also be some footpath closures. We’re sorry for
any inconvenience this will cause.
Refurbishing the coastal defences at Embankment Road means they
will better withstand the extreme weather events we are already
starting to experience because of climate change. Looking
ahead, the sea defences must be refurbished in a way that makes
them more resilient to sea level rise and increased storm
severity, so they continue to protect the community and local
wildlife habitats.
For the groundwork investigations along the Embankment Road,
boreholes will be drilled at various points along the road using
specialist equipment to retrieve a core which will be analysed by
a specialist. The proposed sites for these boreholes can be seen
on our dedicated webpage, Embankment
Road (Bembridge) Coastal Defence Scheme Information Page -
Environment Agency - Citizen Space
(environment-agency.gov.uk).
-
At the request of Isle of Wight Council, the ground
investigation works have been planned for September to avoid
school summer holidays. Whilst construction on the coastal
frontage over winter months is challenging, the Environment
Agency anticipates that the works will be complete in January
2024.
- Working hours will be restricted to 7am to 5pm Monday to
Friday where possible.
- The Embankment Road Coastal Defence Scheme is a partnership
project involving the Environment Agency and Isle of Wight
Council. The delivery partners are JBA Consulting and
VolkerStevin.
- The Embankment Road Coastal Defence Scheme is part of a wider
programme of work on the Isle of Wight to reduce the risk of
flooding and/or coastal erosion. Other projects include,
Yaverland, Shanklin and Ventnor.
- The Government’s investment in flooding has doubled to a
record £5.2 billion between 2021-27, creating around 2,000 new
flood and coastal defences to better protect 336,000 properties
across England.
