East Suffolk Council
Lowestoft flood defences to be put to the test
Temporary flood barriers that are used to reduce the risk of tidal flooding in Lowestoft will be tested this week in preparation for the winter season.
Testing of temporary flood barriers will be carried out along Belvedere Road on Wednesday 8 October from 7.30am until early afternoon, with no restrictions to nearby roads or footpaths in place during the exercise.
During the day, East Suffolk Council will work with installation contractor, the Water Management Alliance, and East Suffolk Services Ltd to deploy sections of the temporary flood barriers along the harbour to practise the Council’s emergency response as they would in a real flooding incident. The session will also allow teams to check the condition of the barriers, inspecting them for any signs of wear and tear since last year’s deployment exercise.
Cllr Mark Packard, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “With an increased risk of flooding during the winter months, our teams carry out yearly testing to ensure both our defences and deployment teams are ready to respond in the event of a North Sea tidal surge.
“Although we can never truly practise real life conditions, the exercise is an important opportunity for our teams to trial putting up the defences to ensure they can be safely and efficiently deployed. In the event of flooding, the temporary flood barriers will work together with the permanent tidal wall defences to reduce the risk of tidal flooding to residents, homes, businesses, and infrastructure in the town.”
The 1400 metres of temporary flood barriers, which were purchased in 2016, are designed to provide some protection to the most vulnerable areas of Lowestoft. Purchased through over £400,000 of funding secured by the former Waveney District Council from the Regional Flood and Coast Committee, the temporary barriers work with the permanent tidal wall defences that were completed in 2023.
Sign up for flood warnings
As winter approaches, East Suffolk Council is reminding residents to sign up for free flood warnings online.
Residents can register or update details warnings by phone, text or email through Floodline:
- Telephone: 0345 988 1188
- Textphone: 0345 602 6340