£3m boost for sea defences

10:00am Friday 28th March 2008

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Cleveleys' sea defence scheme has received a £3m cash boost to allow the project to be extended to the border with Blackpool.

The funding from the Environment Agency for phase four of the scheme has been granted four years ahead of schedule and will allow Wyre Borough Council to extend the scheme from Victoria Road West in Cleveleys to the boundary with Blackpool at Kingsway.

Work will be split into two parts and the funding will enable preparation work to be carried out to extend the sea wall along this section of the Promenade.

Construction work on the defences is then expected to begin on site in late summer.

A further £3m funding has been provisionally earmarked for this work through the Environment Agency.

Councillor Peter Hawley, the council's living economy portfolio holder, said: "We are delighted that the funding has come through and it now means we can push ahead with this phase of the scheme much earlier than planned.

"This is wonderful news for Wyre and is a clear reflection of the outstanding work that has been been done to make the seafront improvement scheme such a success."

This latest success for the scheme comes just as the council prepares to officially unveil the completed work on phase three of the scheme on April 19.

These improvements, to be launched by the Mayor of Wyre Councillor Keith Riley, have extended the seawall from Beach Road to Victoria Road and will include a number of stunning new features, such as a new entertainmnet area called The Plaza and a new café and tourist information centre.

The Cleveleys Seafront scheme has scooped a number of awards in recent months, recently receiving an Urban Renewal Award at the Regional Monitor Excellence Awards 2007 and a High Commendation at the prestigious Building Construction Industry Awards in London.

Wyre Borough Council leader, councillor Russell Forsyth: "The awards that this scheme has attracted speak for themselves and the efforts put into this scheme by council staff and the contractors are clear for all to see.

"The phase four improvements will take the new seafront improvements right up to the borough boundary with Blackpool and will undoudtedly serve to attract more visitors to the Cleveleys area."