Heavy storms on September 9th 2006 could cause local flooding.

HIGH tides occurring at the same time as heavy storms could lead to flooding on September 9, experts have warned.

Homes to the east of Sovereign Harbour, at Pevensey Bay and Normans Bay, would be most at risk. The warning has come as the highest tides for 20 years are predicted in early September. Warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency, urging households to sign up to Flood Watch if their home is likely to be affected. Flooding could happen if high tides and gale force winds occur together on September 9th.

In two weeks, shingle replenishment is due to start on the beach 500 metres east of Sovereign Harbour carried out by officials from Pevensey Coastal Defence Limited. The company has a 25-year contract to protect the beaches from Sovereign Harbour to the west of Normans Bay.

Ian Thomas, project manager for Pevensey Coastal Defence Limited, believes it is too early to predict flooding. He said, ''The tides during the summer will just be around a centimetre higher than tides would normally be at this time of year. ''We would normally expect exceptionally high tides during the equinox in March and April and then the end of September and October. ''The storms which would normally cause flooding would occur during the winter. ''It is too early to predict whether September 9 will be any worse because we can't tell if the weather will be bad or not.''
More than 20,000 cubic metres of shingle will be brought into the coastline and naturally allowed to drift along the coast this winter.

The worst flooding to occur in the area recently took place in October 1999, with extensive flooding to Pevensey Bay. This was when the sea water topped the defences but did not breach them. A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said, ''It is felt that there is at present little concern over the high tides in September and October, as the tides are of no particular consequence unless weather conditions are extreme and there is a significant tide surge. ''The astronomic tide this coming weekend, for example, is 3.5m at Newhaven and the tide in September is 3.67m, a 17cm difference.''

But a spokesperson for the Met Office said flooding could be a problem if there is very severe weather, but conditions for September 9 could not be predicted yet.

He said, ''There are high tides and weather conditions at the time will have an impact on that.''

Phone Floodline on 0845 988 1188 to find out if you can register for Floodline Warnings Direct, a free service that provides flood warnings direct to you by telephone, mobile, fax or pager.

Updated: Sunday, August 27, 2006 20:18