MILLIONS of pounds will be spent to stop buildings falling into a river like a “pack of cards” after a pathway crumbled during destructive high tides.
A section of metal defences along a footpath between the Hythe and Rowhedge at Fieldgate Quay was lost to the elements in 2020.
Colchester Council documents reveal the expected cost of repairing the damage is about £3.8 million.
The damage caused by the defences falling into the River Colne “presents serious health and safety concerns”, the council said.
Hythe councillor Lee Scordis thinks it’s “a significant amount of money which the council probably doesn’t have at the moment” and thinks the current footpath diversion “is working as it is”.
He said: “I think we need to see more options before we do anything.”
A report confirms £4 million has been allocated in the council’s budget for the work, which will be funded by borrowing as agreed by councillors at a budget setting meeting earlier this year.
Council officers have recommended Henderson and Taylor, an engineering firm based in Tilbury which is already an approved supplier to the council, be appointed to complete the works.
A report says a full procurement process would last three to four months, risking “further collapse and more expense”.
Mike Lilley, another city councillor for the area, agrees the council should act without delay.
“Water is a destructive force when it gets going,” he said.
“If this isn’t sorted, it would be like when a pack of cards fall down after one another.
“That wouldn’t be good because there’s a pub and other businesses nearby.
"It all needs replacing to protect the land behind it.”
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Hythe Taskforce, a committee set up to tackle flooding in the Hythe area of Colchester, last week.
“The last few meetings have been very positive and we are making progress towards identifying what’s wrong with this and the flooding in Haven Road,” Mr Lilley added.
The council’s cabinet will discuss the plans at a meeting next week.
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