Flooded road in Pagham to remain closed at the weekend

According to West Sussex Highways, which was working to get Pagham Road open 'as soon as possible' yesterday afternoon (Thursday), the road will not open until Monday.

It comes after a meeting of Arun District Council’s cabinet on Monday night, during which leader James Walsh gave an update on the impact of Storm Ciara in Pagham.

He said pre-emptive works had been put in place and added: “Some over-wash to a number of properties in East Front Road has been experienced but the beach is largely still in place and no properties are damaged.”

Cllr Walsh said work had been continuing to reinforce to beach crest.

Meanwhile, Storm Ciara and a high tide led to the sea surging over Climping beach, turning farmland nearby into a lake and flooding Ferry Road in Littlehampton, cutting off hundreds of residents and businesses.

During Monday’s cabinet meeting, Cllr Walsh said: "Climping Beach, which is currently an Environment Agency managed frontage, has suffered in recent weeks from a deterioration of the defensive banks east of Climping Street, and the beach west of the car park has also suffered.

“This is regrettable but not unexpected – the Coastal Defence Strategy sets out the likely management options for the frontage; unlimited, ongoing maintenance is not seen as sustainable under the EA’s funding framework.”