Gosport Stokes Bay Road seawall replacement scheme expected to begin in June

The sea defences were badly damaged by Storm Eunice in February 2022

Work to repair a damaged seawall is expected to begin in June, despite the managers behind the project yet to finalise several details.

Gosport Borough Council's communities and environment board heard that the authority is waiting for a marine licence to work in and around the sea.

It is also awaiting the final costs from contractors via a tender process.

The 440ft (135m) of sea defences were badly damaged by Storm Eunice in February 2022.

Last year the Stokes Bay Road seawall replacement scheme received funding so it could go ahead with the reconstruction.

It secured £759,317 after the authority, along with Hampshire County Council, made a joint bid to the regional flood and coastal committee.

It was added to the £450,000 from Gosport council and £50,000 from Hampshire council, already set aside for the project.

The Stokes Bay Road seawall replacement scheme received funding last year

Councillor Margaret Morgan, representing Grange and Alver Valley, said: "The licence was submitted in April last year, that's a long time, something has to be done."

Councillor Stephen Philpott, for Peel Common, said he was concerned the grant would be lost if the project did not start this year.

The council previously said it was confident work would start in May and be finished in September, protecting the area in time for the winter.

Budget shortfall

Steve Fitzmaurice and Andy Pearce, representing Coastal Partners, gave an update on the Alverstoke, Seafield and Stokes Bay flood defence schemes at the council meeting.

They said that while a contractor, West Sussex-based JT Mackley and Co Ltd, had been appointed to start work on flood defence structures at Forton, there was a budget shortfall on the other projects.

The Alverstoke sea defences, in the pipeline since 2015, would see the flood risk reduced for 142 homes and businesses.

Seafield was also highlighted as one of the three priority areas for a flood defence scheme with 80 homes and businesses at risk, but it has an £800,000 funding gap.

Council leader Peter Chegwyn said he wanted the government to provide extra money.

Coastal Partners was formed in 2012 to deliver a coastal management service across the coastlines of the local authorities in Havant, Portsmouth, Gosport, Chichester, and Fareham.

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