Tidal barriers to be tested in flood-prone town

Temporary tidal barriers designed to protect against a coastal surge are to be put to the test in a flood-prone town ahead of the winter.

The trial will be carried out between Commercial Road East and Lake Lothing in Lowestoft, Suffolk, on Thursday, from 19:00 BST until 22:00.

The dry run will give local authority teams the opportunity to practise how they would need to respond in the event of a real flood.

Councillor Mark Packard, East Suffolk's cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said being able to simulate the emergency was "important".

He added doing so ensured both the authority's defences and deployment teams would be ready to respond in the event of a North Sea tidal surge.

"The exercise is an important opportunity for our teams to trial putting up the defences to ensure they can be safely and efficiently deployed," he said.

Concerns about the possibility of Lowestoft being submerged by floods have long been a contentious topic of discussion among residents and council officials.

In 2013, the town was devastated by flooding when a powerful tidal surge damaged buildings and disrupted essential services and businesses.

One of those businesses was Alpine Fabrication, on Commercial Road, which was left 1m (3ft) under water, while Doe Metal Recycling suffered £60,000 worth of damage.

The effects of the flood were so severe that a £199m Lowestoft Flood Protection scheme was considered, with a view to putting in place a permanent barrier.

It was designed to protect more than 1,500 homes and 800 businesses - but was axed in January 2024 due to rising costs and a funding shortfall of more than £124m.

The first phase of the work was completed in 2023 but the council could not find the £20m for the next stage, and the government could not cover the costs.

In late 2025, campaigners renewed calls for a permanent tidal barrier to be installed, with Penny Dack saying the town would "die" without one.

The council said it was working with the Environment Agency and partners to "explore the next steps in making Lowestoft better protected from flooding".

The BBC has asked the authority for an update on whether those next steps have been explored and what they are.

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