A five-year £10m investigation into Thames-side flood defences is being sought in an effort to prevent floods from engulfing the area from Sheerness in the east to Teddington in the west.

Coun Gerard Rice, Thurrock Council's representative on the local flood defence committee says it is imperative that the money is forthcoming.

"We will need a detailed investigation and probably a £5bn barrier somewhere between Thurrock and the North Sea if people living close to the Thames - on both banks - are not going to be inundated sometime in the coming decades," he said.

Coun Rice added: "With the 50th anniversary of the 1953 floods coming up, this is the perfect time to highlight the needs.

"This has to be carried out now, otherwise we will be looking at crisis management instead of water management - and that will be too late."

He added: "Of course it is Thurrock which is closest to my heart, and the whole river-frontage - from Purfleet to Fobbing - could be at risk."

A joint grouping of the Thames, Anglian and Southern regions of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has backed the investigation and has agreed initial funding, said Coun Rice.

But he added: "£10m is needed for the five year study and I think a further £5bn would be needed for an effective barrier."

Published Friday, March 22, 2002