Tall order complete as seafront work takes place (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Tall order complete as seafront work takes place

9:53am Friday 12th October 2012 in News

THE final piece of a multimillion- pound sea defence project was lowered into place yesterday with the help of an 11-storey-high crane.

The 2.7km sea wall in Redcar, east Cleveland, is designed with a curved wave return section at the top that will reduce the power of the waves and help stop sea water breaking over the top and flooding the town.

The Environment Agency has contributed £25.5m to the scheme, with a further £4.6m from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and should be completed next spring.

Donna Robinson, of the Environment Agency, said: “When the Redcar scheme is complete, it will reduce the risk of flooding to 978 homes and 209 businesses.”

The regeneration of the seafront is a key aim of the scheme, alongside reducing risk of flooding and erosion.

Redcar and Cleveland council’s cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Mark Hannon, said: “The new sea wall was the catalyst for the £75m regeneration of Redcar designed to stimulate economic growth in the area.”

Once the wall is complete, further work will reinstate and improve the promenade behind the defences and see improvements to the Stray.