Council services

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in England. However, delivery is the responsibility of a number of flood and coastal defence "operating authorities" i.e. The Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards. Responsibilities differ according to the type of operating authority

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is the relevant operating authority for:

• Flood defences on ordinary watercourses which are not within the area of an internal drainage board; and
• Coast protection (i.e. measures against coastal erosion) and flood defences on certain frontages in the Authority's area.

It is not possible to prevent breaching and / or overtopping of the defences from ever happening. It is essential, however, that the defences are up to the standard that would be expected for a large town such as Southend.

Before the beach replenishment scheme many areas of the sea wall were damaged. The blockwork had sunk and there were many holes where the sea had penetrated the defences and plucked out individual blocks. The work will be part of a planned programme, probably on an annual basis. The beach profile will be monitored by regular surveys. Periodically, additional material will be imported to the beach with either land or sea delivery.