Flood walls unveiled with 'landmark' reached in Lowestoft

Officials and Coastal Partnership East at the unveiling of the information board to mark the completion of the first phase of the tidal flood walls project in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

A special event was held on Friday as the opening of Lowestoft's new tidal flood walls - the first phase of the town's tidal flood defences - was celebrated.

Waveney MP Peter Aldous, East Suffolk Council leader Caroline Topping and mayor of Lowestoft Sonia Barker at the unveiling of the information board to mark the completion of the first phase of the tidal flood walls project in Lowestoft. Picture Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It comes almost two-and-a-half years after construction works started in Lowestoft to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 1,500 homes and 825 businesses in the town.

Back in March 2021, the start of construction works to reduce the risk of flooding in Lowestoft is marked. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Back then Waveney MP Peter Aldous and other key project partners dug the ground in Hamilton Road to formally start the first phase of work "that underpins the town's future."

As Storm Babet battered the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, the completion of the first phase of the Lowestoft Flood Protection project was celebrated with speeches at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club and an official opening ceremony on the South Pier. 

The official opening event to mark the completion of the first phase of the tidal flood walls project in Lowestoft. Picture Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Organised by East Suffolk Council and Coastal Partnership East to "celebrate the completion" of the Lowestoft tidal walls, the event attracted a fine turnout.

With a range of schemes seeking to reduce the risk of flooding from tidal surges - such as in the 2013 north sea storm surge - the project has also completed works on a localised flood defence scheme around Kirkley Stream in the area of Velda Close and Aldwyck Way in Lowestoft as part of works to reduce flooding from rivers and surface water rainfall.

In December 2013 the "devastating" storm surge caused havoc along the east coast – with 158 residential and 233 commercial properties flooded in Lowestoft and Oulton Broad.

With the first phase of the scheme seeing tidal floodwalls built along Hamilton Road and Waveney Road, and around the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club and South Pier, these are a mixture of solid floodwalls, demountable defences, floodgates and glass floodwalls.

Also featuring on the glass floodwalls is "a lasting legacy" of the sea, and the town's relationship with the sea, as a series of engravings - words, images and poems - now feature as part of the permanent flood defences in a children's glass art area.

The glass floodwalls with words, images and poetry in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It comes after arts charity FlipSide, in conjunction with Lowestoft Rising, worked with Lowestoft Flood Protection back in 2018 to deliver an exciting heritage and literacy project called Watertight Words - that engaged more than 1,000 young people.

The glass floodwalls with words, images and poetry in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The presentation of the framed glass prints for schools at the completion of the first phase of the tidal flood walls project in Lowestoft. Picture Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

To mark their involvement, framed glass prints were presented to Gunton Primary Academy, Pakefield Primary and Roman Hill Primary schools at Friday's ceremony.

For the final phase of the project, a 40m tidal barrier is earmarked for Lowestoft's outer harbour - across the channel entrance to Lake Lothing - as part of a scheme that would see one of the largest floodgates in the UK installed.

East Suffolk Council has now applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to obtain the required legal powers to progress the Lowestoft Tidal Barrier project.

'A really long journey'

Karen Thomas, head of Coastal Partnership East. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Karen Thomas, head of Coastal Partnership East, said this was "a really important project" adding it had "been a really long journey of 10 years to get to this place."

Describing the project as "vitally important for Lowestoft" Waveney MP Peter Aldous said: "I think what the north sea storm surge of December 4/5 2013 did was a wake up call and the start of why we are here today - with a comprehensive flood defence scheme in Lowestoft.

Waveney MP Peter Aldous. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"This event marks the celebration of the completion of the flood defence walls.

"This is not the end of the project but it's a very important landmark - and now we can prepare for that final push with the tidal barrier."

East Suffolk Council leader Caroline Topping said: "This scheme provides 1.5km of tidal wall defences in the form of fixed and demountable walls and flood gates.

East Suffolk Council leader Caroline Topping. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"So, although we still need the tidal barrier to complete the tidal defences for Lowestoft, these new defences - along with the temporary flood barriers - provide critical protection for the town's communities and businesses.

"Our thoughts this weekend are with all the coastal communities impacted by Storm Babet and this terrible weather."