Plans have been unveiled to build a 140ft-long concrete tunnel at a Whitstable beauty spot to protect dozens of homes from flooding.
The culvert would be installed where the Swalecliffe Brook meets the sea at Long Rock – an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The mouth of the brook is regularly blocked with shingle, causing the stream to back up and water levels to rise.
The long-running issue leaves about 100 homes at risk of flooding as far back as the Old Thanet Way and the railway line near the Chestfield and Swalecliffe station.
Environment Agency (EA) workers clear the mouth of the brook several times a year but there are still times when it becomes blocked and homes are put at risk.
Building the culvert would allow the stream to flow through it and out to sea unobstructed.
A planning application has been submitted by the city council, which fears there will be more blockages as sea levels rise.
It…
