NEW flood defences for the Creekmoor and Sterte Channels have been completed, which will protect the surrounding areas from flooding for decades to come.

Work to build the £700,000 structures started in March following a large funding injection from the Environment Agency and Wessex Water. The defences 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.

The defences, which have been installed at the end of the channels, where they meet Holes Bay, house valves to prevent tidal water travelling back up the channels during high tides.

The structure across the mouth of Creekmoor channel also forms a bridge with a footpath and cycleway, and improvement on the previous route which took pedestrians and cyclists via a ‘dog-leg- close to the busy Upton Bypass.

Councillor John Rampton, portfolio holder for environment, said feasibility studies into creating natural flood defences at Hatch Pond and Holes Bay, to protect Fleetsbridge and the railway line, were now taking place.

“It’s looking very positive that we can bid for money from the Environment Agency for these works,” he said

“The defences at Creekmoor and Sterte will protect hundreds of homes for decades to come.

“Should further defences be needed in 50 or 60 years’ time, they can be built on top of these ones as they are modular.

“The work has been in the pipeline for quite a long time. We’ve always known Creekmoor, particularly the areas of Hazlebury Road and Pergin Crescent, have been at risk. The sea levels are rising – we have to admit that.”

He added a coastal protection partnership was being created, involving the future Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole authority.

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.

A number of “environmental enhancements” have been made through the project, according to Poole council. These include planting the flood bank by the Sterte channel with kidney vetch to attract the small blue butterfly and constructing a bank by the mouth of the Creekmoor channel to prevent disturbance to birds using the area to feed or roost.