Work has started on a new £7 million coastal flood alleviation scheme in Lincolnshire.

The Environment Agency-led scheme at Boygrift will see around 400,000m3 of sand pumped onto Lincolnshire's beaches to reduce flood risk to more than 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans and 35,000 hectares of land.

Over the next eight weeks, a HAM316 dredger will move to Trusthorpe, Mablethorpe, Ingoldmells, Trunch Lane, Wolla Bank, Chapel Six Marshes and Huttoft, delivering approximately 5,000m3 of sand twice a day.


Mark Robinson, Senior Coastal Advisor at the Environment Agency, said: "Our work to restore beach levels is important as it protects our coastal defences, such as sea walls, from the energy of the waves as they impact on the coast.

"Our defences along the Lincolnshire coast help us reduce coastal flood risk to tens of thousands of homes and businesses as well as significant areas of agricultural land. By replenishing beaches, we extend the defences' life.

"The project also brings value to the bustling tourism economy on Lincolnshire's coast, as without it Lincolnshire's beaches would not be nearly as sandy."

(LM/MH)