A MAIN road into Wisbech town centre will close again from Monday while works to protect 11,700 homes and businesses from flooding are completed. The South Brink will be closed to allow piling work to start again. It had previously been closed at the end

A MAIN road into Wisbech town centre will close again from Monday while works to protect 11,700 homes and businesses from flooding are completed.

The South Brink will be closed to allow piling work to start again. It had previously been closed at the end of October but reopened to minimise disruption in the town over the busy Christmas period.

South Brink is expected to reopen in March when the first phase of the Wisbech scheme is completed. The next phase will see works carried out to improve flood defences on the North Brink.

The flood defence scheme will ensure current flood protection levels for 10,500 homes and 1,200 businesses are maintained into the future. The work includes driving piles into the riverbank. These will then be clad with concrete and bricks.

Environment Agency Project Manager Andrew Usborne is overseeing the Wisbech scheme.

He said: "These works are vital for the future protection of Wisbech. Climate change and sea level rise mean we need to improve flood defences in the town to maintain the level of protection they currently provide."

A diversion will be in place via Weasenham Lane and the A1101 Churchill Road during the South Brink closure. All businesses will be open as usual and access to Somers Road car park will be maintained.

Contractors have arranged a drop-in session at Reed Barn, Peckover House on the North Brink, between 3pm and 7pm on January 14. People living and working in the town are invited to pop in and talk to members of the project team who will be able to give information and answer questions about both the South and North Brink works. For more information about this event, please contact Monica Raine from Interserve on 01945 464527.