🌊🧱 Today, Rebecca visited an event to celebrate the completion of the Canvey Island Shoreline Revetment Project.

Alongside those from the Environment Agency, Balfour Beatty and local representatives, Rebecca joined a tour to the view finished sea wall defences which are essential to keeping the residents and businesses of Canvey Island safe during inclement weather and high tides, reducing the risk of flooding from the Thames Estuary.

Rebecca has worked hard since July 2014 to ensure that the terrible flooding that took place back then does not happen again, putting pressure on all the responsible flooding agencies to take action. The new defences, which have been under construction since 2023, stretch 3km from Thorney Bay to the Island Yacht Club providing protection for more than 6,000 properties on the island for another 50 years.

Not only does the revetment project improve sea defence, notable improvements have also been made to the shoreline:

• New steps have been constructed down to the beach
• Improvements have been made to the pathway between Thorney Bay and Chapman Sands
• The promenade is now more accessible with wider access ramps up to the sea wall
• Flowering grass seed mixes planted to improve biodiversity on the defence
• Rock pools created to enhance habitats in locations along the foreshore
• New information boards along the site

On top of all this, the project came in under-budget and ahead of schedule, and mindful of the local community and businesses that are key to the area. The new revetment not only provides better protection for Canvey Island, but an enhanced promenade and beach for residents and tourists.

Following the tour, Rebecca spoke at the event to thank those who had help make the revetment works possible and unveiled a plaque which will be placed along the sea wall to inform those using the promenade of the work that has been carried out.

After the event, Rebecca commented: "The revetment project is essential to keeping the residents and businesses of Canvey Island safe for many years to come. I am pleased that the work has come in under-budget and slightly ahead of schedule - how often can that be said of developments? I look forward to seeing the upgrades to the sea wall enjoyed by locals and those visiting Canvey Beach long into the future."