Work to prepare the area for the £1.45-million construction improvements to the flood alleviation scheme in Bude began this week.   

The Crescent Flood Defence and River Restoration Project is expected to be completed next April and will better protect 22 homes and 15 commercial and community properties on The Crescent and Ergue-Gaberic Way, between the River Neet and Bude Canal.  

Site set up and pre-commencement work got underway last Monday ready for the main works to begin on August 29. 

Nanny Moore’s Bridge and Ergue-Gaberic Way will be closed from August 29 until the end of October for heavy construction works. 

Erque-Gaberic Way will then have partial closures until April 2024, with access maintained for local premises.  

Tony Rago, asset performance advisor at the Environment Agency said: “The new works will strengthen the existing flood scheme and better protect the local community and economy from flood events, predicted to increase in the near future as a result of climate change.” 

When the construction work has been completed, the Environment Agency will replant the embankment with native species of local provenance. 

This will provide enhanced foraging and habitats and will act as an important green corridor. 

Some non-native and ornamental species will also be planted to maintain the river character.