Laurence Collins, of the Ipswich Borough Council, Vicky Ford, MEP for the East of England, and Ben Gummer, MP for Ipswich, met to discuss issues concerning the Ipswich waterfront.

IPSWICH: Town MP Ben Gummer has linked up with East of England MEP Vicky Ford in an attempt to ensure funding is guaranteed for the last piece of the town’s flood defences.

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Already more than £25million has been pledged and spent on raising the level of the banks around the New Cut and tidal area of the River Orwell in an attempt to reduce the threat of flooding.

However, another £26m needs to be spent on a new flood barrier across the New Cut to ensure that Waterfront and low-lying areas of the town centre would not be at risk from a combination of very high tides and high winds or heavy rain.

Mr Gummer said: “We are well on the way to being well protected. The work that has already been done will offer some protection but the full benefits will only come when the barrier is in place.”

Working with Ms Ford he is hoping to keep up the pressure for European funds as well as contributions from the Environment Agency in Whitehall.

They were joined by Ipswich council director Laurence Collins for a meeting with bosses from the port owner ABP to try to keep up the pressure.

Mr Gummer said: “The meeting was very good. It was about us getting all the facts in place so we can put the best possible case for funding.”

Ms Ford was impressed by what she saw at The Waterfront: “When you see what has been achieved here it is important that it has the best possible protection and I will do whatever I can,” she said.

Mr Collins said the high tides could be a risk for The Waterfront – and action was needed to ensure it was properly protected.

He said: “Four years ago there was a very high tide and other factors which meant the river peaked at only two inches below the river wall – that is why we need to improve the protection.”

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