Council agrees to pick up £2.7m flood project bill

A council has agreed to pick up a multi-million bill for a major flood protection project that will help to safeguard a key road.

Suffolk County Council's cabinet approved a further £2.7m on top of £2m it had already pledged to the Benacre Flood Risk Management Project.

Under the scheme, two new pumping stations, drains and embankments between the A12 and the coast and 82 hectares of intertidal mud flats and salt marsh will be constructed.

Paul West, the council's lead for highways and flooding, highlighted the importance of the project and said "doing nothing was not an option".

"If this scheme were not to proceed we would be facing regular and prolonged closures caused by flooding of the A12, with all the cost and disruption that would entail," he said.

"Our further financial contribution presents council taxpayers with excellent value for money and secures this section of the A12 for the future."

The £59.1m project was largely being funded by the government and Sizewell C.

According to the council, if it were not to go ahead it could cost £235m over the next 50 years and compromise not only the A12, but also 200 properties and businesses nearby.

The council agreed on Tuesday to underwrite the project up to £2.7m during the construction period up to 2029.

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