Richard has consistently championed Weymouth in its bid for flood protection. Most recently, he was instrumental in winning £19.5 million in levelling up funding towards long term regeneration and redevelopment of the town. Along with his fellow Dorset MPs he also pressed for additional funding in the most recent budget settlement, leading to a further £4m grant.
After a September 2017 meeting in which Richard brought together DEFRA minister, Therese Coffey, and Tri-Council Partnership Chief Executive, Matt Prosser and Cllr Jeff Cant in a bid to win extra funds for flood relief in Weymouth, there was a series of funding awards to Weymouth. In July 2018, the Weymouth Harbour Wall Improvements in South Dorset received £1.2m from the £40m Floods Regeneration and Growth Fund, which was added to a £2.8 million in Flood Defence Grant, also from DEFRA. In March 2019, the DCLG announced £3.79 million, awarded by the Coastal Communities Fund for the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project, while the Coastal Revival Fund also announced £40,000 for the Friends of Swanage Bandstand restoration and £46,150 for the Portland Museum.
Repairs to the harbour walls are currently making good progress. This work will continue over the next two or three years in a series of planned stages. There has been a recent issue with regard to part of the harbour wall collapsing opposite the former Council office building which will be repaired as part of the continuing work on the harbour walls. Once the Council has secured a development partner, they will produce a proposal for the future use of the North Quay site and will put in a planning application, with a view to construction work commencing in 2027.
History of the campaign
The majority of Weymouth is very flat and low lying and is classified as flood zone 3 by the Environment Agency. Property thresholds in the Park district are less than 0.85 metres above sea level, while the street level is prone to surface water flooding.
“Weymouth needs to upgrade its flood defences dramatically,” said Drax, “Almost every year there is severe flooding in the town, caused by extreme tides and waves. We must build up our harbour walls – almost 2.5km of them - and upgrade 6.9kms of coastal flood defences. Without these improvements, 450 properties are currently at risk and these numbers will rise to 2150 over the next 100 years.”
“Ten per cent of our sea walls are at risk of imminent failure. The 2012 collapse resulted in repairs costing the Council £4.7 million.”
“Tackling the immediate flood risk will cost £30 million over the next 15 years"
“These flood defence upgrades are of vital importance to Weymouth’s future development, partly because the Environment Agency will not allow building until a comprehensive, funded, flood defence programme is in place.”
“Weymouth has the highest population density in Dorset and development land is in short supply because we are surrounded by water on three sides. We must concentrate on regeneration and creating employment space in the town, but all this is threatened by our vulnerability to flooding.”
“Commerce will be Weymouth’s future lifeblood; along with our very able Council executives, I will continue to press for results.”
After a September 2017 meeting in which Richard brought together DEFRA minister, Therese Coffey, Tri-Council Partnership Chief Executive, Matt Prosser and Leader of Weymouth and Portland Borough Cllr Jeff Cant, in a bid to win extra funds for flood relief in Weymouth, there have been a series of funding awards to Weymouth.
In July 2018, the Weymouth Harbour Wall Improvements in South Dorset received £1.2m from the £40m Floods Regeneration and Growth Fund, which was added to the £2.8 million in Flood Defence Grant, also from DEFRA.
In March 2019, the DCLG announced £3.79 million awarded by the Coastal Communities Fund for the Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project.
At the same time, the Coastal Revival Fund also announced £40,000 for the Friends of Swanage Bandstand restoration and £46,150 for the Portland Museum.
Cllr Jeff Cant said: “This is great news for Weymouth & Portland. I am delighted that Government has responded so positively to our case. We had an excellent meeting with the Minister last year when we discussed the very real challenges Weymouth faces in funding repairs to aging infrastructure.”
“It is great to see that this direct involvement with Government is paying dividends. This has been a real team effort, building on work with the Environment Agency and the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, as well as our local MP, Richard Drax.
“This funding will help to support the first phase of flood defence management and it is an important step forward to safeguarding Weymouth’s future and boosting the local economy.”
On May 10, 2018, Richard met Treasury Secretary Robert Jenrick to discuss the extra funds for Weymouth and on June 13, 2018, he asked Theresa May at Prime Minister's Questions to confirm she would back a growing number of her ministers in supporting an £18m grant to rebuild Weymouth's flood defences.
The Prime Minister replied, commending Drax for his work, and saying, “I know he has worked hard on the issue of flood defences. I am sure, however, he will understand that Ministers need to consider the various options for allocations of the fund very carefully. We need to ensure we are getting the best possible outcomes across the whole country. The scheme to which he refers is on the list of projects being considered for the £40 million fund. It is intended to support high risk communities and I can tell him that we anticipate the decision will be made by summer 2018.”