West Kirby’s new £16 million flood defence wall has been officially opened.
Sections of the promenade have now opened, although work to install flood gates, Victorian shelters and resurface the road won’t be completed until towards the end of June.
Wirral Council says the scheme ‘will protect 70 properties at risk of flooding now from extreme tidal events’ and give over 500 properties improved protection over the next century as sea levels rise.
However, the project, which ballooned to almost three times the original budget, has been opposed by some local residents who argued alternative solutions should have been explored.
In his speech at the ceremony, Mayor and local councillor, Jeff Green took aim at those who have criticised the scheme, and praised council officers, who he said had endured “personal criticism…by people who couldn’t see or hadn’t seen what an amazing facility this will be”.
He said: “I have to say it looks absolutely brilliant. We’ve heard [from objectors that] there won’t be enough benches, we won’t be able to see, there won’t be a shelter. And it’s great to see the amount of seating that’s going to be available for people, and the shelter, and this amazing performance space.”
He praised the improvements as a “complete transformation” for the promenade, with new lighting and improvements also planned for the seating known as ‘The Ovens’ near to Tanskeys.
Cllr Green added: “As we move forward towards the summer, I can’t wait to see visitors sat side by side on the length of the wall with their ice creams, fish and chips or whatever, taking in those fantastic views across to north Wales.”
The scheme was originally due to be completed in November, but the piling works took longer than envisaged.
Mark Cronshaw, Framework Director for contractor VolkerStevin said: “For a variety of reasons, this project has had its challenges, but as you can see, we’re very much nearing completion now, and the finished sections are looking absolutely amazing in my mind.
“For us, what you see here is not all of it. The team have put an awful lot of effort in, and a lot of the hard work is all underground, and that’s where many of the challenges were found.”
The ceremony was also attended by John Curtin, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, who said it would help protect the town for the next century.
He said: “Coastal communities are under a lot of threat with climate change, but when you have a scheme like the one in West Kirby, you get that great investment of a combination of reducing the risk of flooding – it doesn’t go away – we still need to be aware of the flood risk they’re at, but it reduces the risk of flooding and also regenerates the seafront and makes it a great place to visit. So I think they’ve really done a great job in West Kirby.”
He added that in 2019 international climate change panel had concluded that by 2050, a once in a century event would become an annual event under all future climate scenarios: “This is about future proof protection. This is about making sure West Kirby can thrive right through 2050 and into 2100 with those sea level rises that we reckon.
“This defence here has probably provided a ten-fold protection. You’re not ever immune from flood risk and people should still go on to the Environment Agency website and check for flood warnings, which you can get for free.”
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