A NEW flood defence structure in Poole has been completed, with construction of a similar one under way.

The £700,000 structures at Creekmoor and Sterte have been designed to reduce the increasing risk of future flooding from a combination of high tides and surface water run-off caused by heavy rain.

Work to build the defence structure at the mouth of Creekmoor channel started at the beginning of April, with lane closures on the A350 while the work took place.

Poole council has been working alongside Wessex Water and the Environment Agency throughout the project, which has received funding from the organisations.

Now work has begun to build a flood defence structure at the end of the Sterte channel where it meets Holes Bay.

The council says while vehicles will be using the footpath near Sterte during the works, pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained.

Some environmental works will also take place near the Creekmoor structure to “help ease the disturbance to birds at the mouth of the channel”, they say.

The new structures comprise two rows of sheet piles driven into the sea bed, which are then filled with concrete.

They house valves to prevent tidal water travelling back up the channels during high tides. This increases the volume of the channels, creating more space for surface water flooding to collect in times of heavy rainfall.

The structure at Creekmoor also forms a ‘bridge’ link to improve the existing route of the footpath and cycle way, the council says.

With sea levels predicted to rise significantly in the next century, the council’s Strategic Flood Risk Assessment identified Creekmoor, Hamworthy, and Canford Magna as areas of Poole at high risk of flooding. Between 201 and 500 properties were estimated to be under threat.

Borough of Poole applied to the Marine Management Organisation for a licence to undertake the works at Creekmoor and Sterte.

The new structures are designed to give the area full protection for decades to come.

Speaking previously on the benefits of the scheme, Cllr John Rampton, portfolio holder for environment, said it was a “highly effective scheme and represents excellent value for money.”

He added: “The application has involved an assessment of the flood threat, and calculations have shown us that putting in flap valves will give us full protection up until 2060.”