COUNCIL WELCOMES FLOOD MONEY

But it remains committed to getting defences that will protect the town as a whole.

Leader Cllr Ann De Vecchi said: 'We welcome the announcement and are very pleased that the Cliffe will receive much better protection.

'However, we have been lobbying hard to get funding for a comprehensive upgrading of flood defences that will safeguard the whole town.

'We will continue to push for improved defences in the rest of Lewes.

'The Cliffe has struggled to obtain national flood defence funding, largely because of the abnormal costs associated with raised flood walls in an historic area which also has a legacy of contamination from past heavy industrial use.'

The RFDC voted to allocate funds from a local levy of councils in its area, which stretches from Hampshire across to Kent.

Work is planned to start in 2006/7 on the river frontage between Harvey's Brewery and Phoenix Causeway.

The next stage is to construct raised river walls south of Cliffe Bridge to the far end of South Street.

When completed, it will give Cliffe a flood defence standard of one in 100 years.

Lewes District Council planning officers will be meeting Environment Agency officers next week to discuss the first stage of the works.