Work on a new flood defence wall that will change the face of West Kirby promenade forever could start as early as this September.
The aim is to build a 1.2 metre high wall right along South Parade to protect homes and businesses from rising sea levels and the growing number of tidal surge flooding episodes.
An environmental report by infrastructure development company AECOM Ltd says the plan is to begin work on the scheme this September, and complete it by March 2017, to avoid summertime disruption.
There are a number of hurdles to this timetable, however. Wirral council still has to obtain a government grant to build the wall and go through the formal planning process.
A council spokesman stressed: “The publishing of this report is part of the planning process. The dates mentioned in the programme of works are aspirational and subject to change.”
But as the report makes clear, the tidal flooding risk to West Kirby will only increase in coming years, so officials will want to press on with the project as quickly as they can.
South Parade has frequently suffered significant tidal surge flooding over the last 25 years, and the road has been closed as a result 25 times between March 2004 and December 2014. Climate change and rising sea levels are expected to make matters worse in years to come.
The proposed secondary flood defence wall comes after a public consultation process with West Kirby residents last October.
The wall will run along the side of the pavement roughly on the line of the current street lights and benches, for 1.1 kilometres along South Parade. This would mean pedestrians would be separated from the road by the wall.
There will be 15 pedestrian gates in the wall and four for vehicles, which can be closed off when there is a risk of flooding. The pavement on the promenade will be completely resurfaced as part of the project, to make it more durable to sea water.
The seating on the promenade would be restored and some limited landscaping features are also proposed.
One of the biggest negative impacts of the plan would be that the wall will block the view for people who like to sit in their cars and admire the marine lake and the Dee estuary. This, the report says, will be particularly felt by elderly and disabled visitors.
However the plan is for some sections of the wall, alongside disabled parking areas, to be made of clear glass panels, allowing people to see through.
The wall would also block part of the view for some homes on South Parade, and for people using the sheltered benches outside Coronation Gardens.
The detailed, 89 page report concludes that, while the construction work will cause some disruption, there should be no long term environmental problems caused by the wall.
It states: “The development would afford a higher standard of protection than a barrier located on the front of the promenade, as the exposed area of promenade would assist flood protection by helping to dissipate wave energy before it reaches the wall.
“It would offer a very high standard of protection to local residential and commercial properties, reduce the flooding risk along South Parade highway and the adjacent streets, reduce the risk to life for the largely elderly population that live in the flood risk zone and would sustain tourism and associated recreation.
“It would provide the best value for money in terms of the public investment required to alleviate the risk of flooding.”
The report says that the flood defences will protect 287 homes and 57 commercial properties in West Kirby with a combined value estimated at £50.47 million.
It says the wall should provide protection against flooding for 100 years, and is designed to allow for the impact of climate change. This will protect people’s property values.
Anyone who wants to be kept updated on developments with West Kirby’s flood defences can email helengallagher@wirral.gov.uk and asking to be added to Wirral council’s mailing list on the issue.