ECO-CONSCIOUS Government workers are preparing to form picket lines outside flood defence sites in north Essex as part of a growing dispute over pay.

Environment Agency employees will take part in strike action at Colne Barrier in Wivenhoe and Cattawade Barrier in Manningtree on Wednesday.

The picket lines will defiantly stand between 7.15am and 9.45am in Manningtree and 10am until 11am in Wivenhoe.

They will be made up of workers from river inspection, flood forecasting, coastal risk management and pollution control, all of whom will be downing tools.

The members of UNISON and Prospect have decided to stage the protests after suffering a real-terms pay cost of more than 20 per cent since 2010.

Concerns have also been raised over severe staff shortages, which is placing an “intolerable pressure on the workforce,” and a lack of funding.

Daphne Lewis, UNISON Eastern regional organiser, said: “Communities in Essex are kept safe because of the tireless efforts of Environment Agency workers.

“But staff are struggling to meet the growing challenges of climate change after decades of underfunding and shortages of employees.

“None of them want to strike, but the government’s failure to find a solution has left them with no other option but to walk out again next month.

"Ministers need to get talking so we can avoid further escalation of this dispute.”

The demonstration will span 12-hours but employees will also withdraw from incident response rotas during the 12-hours either side of the walkout.

This action starts at 7pm on Tuesday, and kicks in again immediately at the end of the strike for another 12 hours, before concluding at 7am on Thursday.

During these hours, there will be fewer experienced Environment Agency staff to provide cover if an incident occurs.

Where there is a genuine threat to life or property from something like a major flood, however officers will step in as emergency ‘life and limb’ cover.

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy added: “It is almost impossible for staff to properly inspect, regulate and protect the natural environment.

“This has resulted in problems including sewage discharge and pollution of waterways, which will only get worse unless action is taken.

“Staff love their jobs, but simply cannot continue to do them when their pay is decreasing in real terms every single year. The only option left is industrial action.

“To protect the environment, regulators must be properly resourced. If that doesn’t happen, the regulator can’t do its job, and everybody suffers.”