Is the Peace, Tranquillity and Beauty of Shoebury Common under Threat from the Council's Proposals? |
Alternative Proposals entitled “Further set back defence along road”The Council has ruled out alternative schemes for improving flood defences on Shoebury Common that would have little or no impact on the character of the Common. From the words in the Council’s handout of 2012, "This option utilises the existing areas of higher ground landward of Thorpe Esplanade/Shoebury Common Road and involves a combination of road raising, floodwalls and embankments to join these areas of high ground back to the existing defences to create a continuous line of defence for Shoebury". The houses that back on to the Common are on higher ground. The seawall under these schemes would take advantage of this and would be set well away the promenade, beach huts and the area enjoyed by so many. This new seawall could link up to existing defences in the Garrison Ground with a floodgate constructed across Ness Road. The floodgate would have the advantage of being able to be closed if the threat were from the sea and left open if the threat were from surface water inland. The Council states the need for “road raising”, but is this necessary? Any flooding is likely to be of a temporary nature and there are several other routes into Shoebury. If the Council reconsiders and chooses to adopt either of theses alternative proposals, there would be little change to the Common, which could continue to be enjoyed to the full by generations to come.
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