CALLS have been put forward to expand a flood defence project to protect the Severn Beach rail branch line from rising sea levels.

Millions of pounds are needed to build defences alongside a mile-long stretch of the Severn Beach line.

The railway is used to transport over 1,000 tonnes of rubbish every day to a massive incinerator in Avonmouth.

The rubbish is then burned and the heat is used to generate electricity, and the railway is designated as critical national infrastructure.

But due to rising sea levels, the risk of flooding is growing.

They are expected to cost £12 million.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Claire Young, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, is calling on the government to fork out the cash to help get flood defences built, protecting the railway.

She said: “The councils, working with the Environment Agency, have designed a project that will protect homes and businesses on Severnside, as well as help to create new natural habitats in an ecologically unique area.

"It is vital that this work is itself protected by the extension of the defences to protect the rail line and all that relies upon it against the threat of rising sea levels.

“We look forward to hearing from the transport secretary soon that the government will reconsider this investment in truly vital infrastructure to protect communities, businesses and nature in South Gloucestershire.”

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Massive flood defence work is already underway in the area, known as the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area Flood Defence and Ecology Mitigation Project.

This includes building 1.5 kilometres of defences on the land side of the railway line.

The railway runs to the Suez energy-from-waste incinerator, which burns up to 370,000 tonnes of rubbish each year from six boroughs in west London as well as Bristol.

Cllr Simon Johnson (LD, Pilning and Severn Beach), added: “Ensuring the safety of our rail infrastructure is paramount for the well-being of our community. 

“Additional funding for flood defences will prevent disruptions and safeguard our vital transport links.”

Cllr Young has also written to Mark Harper, the transport secretary, urging him to reconsider a decision taken by the Department for Transport to not fund the flood defence work on the sea side of the railway.

In her letter, she said: “The flood defence alignment is generally on the seaward side of the Severn Beach branch line.

"However, there is an approximate 1.5 kilometre exception to this where due to the environmental designations of the Severn Estuary, it was not possible to build a new flood defence on the seaward side of the railway, outside of the Network Rail corridor.

“The project secured planning permission for a continuous alignment of new flood defence in 2019 so a design for the landward side of the railway was approved, but this will leave the railway exposed to flooding and damage as flood risk increases with sea level rise.

"The line is considered critical national infrastructure and supports the UK’s aspirations for carbon net zero.”