Plans for a £3million, flood defence barrier in West Kirby have moved a step closer after a successful bid for funding.

Wirral Council submitted the proposals to build a 1.1km long flood wall along South Parade to the Environment Agency in the hope of securing Grant Aid for the scheme, which aims to help protect the resort from flooding into the next century.

That bid has now been approved, meaning the scheme can now progress to the next phase, which will involve residents helping to influence detailed plans as to how the barrier will look.

It would stretch from Riversdale Road and Sandy Lane.

Councillor Phillip Brightmore, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “Our location as a peninsula inevitably means we are at more risk of flooding than many areas and our responsibility to protect residents, businesses and the local environment from that risk is one we take very seriously.

“The proposal to construct a brand new floodwall that will run the length of the promenade at West Kirby is something we have been developing closely with local people for a number of years and we made a strong case that had a lot of support from within the community.

Flooding on South Parade, West Kirby, back in 2013
Flooding on South Parade, West Kirby, back in 2013

“We are delighted that the key issue of funding has now been secured and this plan can now move forward and we can put the protection in place that is needed in this location.”

The council says up to 70 homes and 23 businesses in West Kirby that have a 0.5% chance of flooding in any year will be protected by the new floodwall.

Over the next 100 years as climate change continues to cause sea levels to rise, the new floodwall will reduce flood risk to 567 homes and 104 businesses – which Wirral Council believes will effectively safeguard the centre of West Kirby from flooding from the sea.

The Environment Agency support amounts to £1.7m in Grant Aid, a £500,000 Local Levy and £900,000 of Council Capital funding.

Cllr Brightmore added: “We will soon be inviting submissions from specialists to work with the council and the local community in developing the detailed design for the scheme ahead of submission for planning approval.

“We don’t take the public support for this project for granted and we will certainly be continuing to involve local people further as we move forward.

“We hope that if all goes to plan, we could be looking at construction starting towards the end of this year.”