Hythe and Dibden Parish Council applies to NFDC to improve flood defences at Prospect Place park

RENEWED plans to create an extra flood defence in Hythe to protect homes and businesses have been submitted by the parish council.

As reported in the A&T last year, the council withdrew its scheme to create a bund at Prospect Place park.

New Forest District Council had said it could not support the application due to a lack of information in the flood risk assessment.

The new application requests permission for a bund approximately five metres by 13 metres on the site.

In documents submitted to NFDC, Hythe and Dibden Parish Council stated: “Prospect Place park is a small grassed area used for informal recreation and facing on to Southampton Water.

“When certain weather conditions coincide with high spring tides, the sea level can over-top the park and could flow into the town centre, much of which is at a lower level.

“On several occasions in recent years that inflow has been blocked by volunteers using sand bags to form barriers on the grass.

“As the park constitutes the lowest part of the town’s flood defences the council proposes to reduce the flood risk by raising the level of part of the grassed area.”

The application explained that construction work should be designed to avoid the fragile timber sea wall which is expected to be reconstructed as part of long-term improvements.

So far there have been two letters of support received and none against.

The public consultation ends on 10th May after which NFDC will make its decision.