Sea defences are in such bad condition they would fail to protect a town from a disaster, it is claimed.
Vulnerable - Gerald Wallington-Hayes inspects the flood gates which have fallen into disrepair and which he fears could be at the centre of a disaster. Picture: STEVE BRADING (45087-a)
Several flood gates at Dovercourt have been found rusted through and one barrier completely missing.
Urgent calls have now been made to restore the gates to full working order in case of an emergency.
Gerald Wallington-Hayes was chairman of Tendring Council's control and protection committee which installed the flood gates about 26 years ago.
He inspected the gates following the flood siren testing last weekend and in the wake of the American tidal surge caused by hurricane Katrina.
To his horror, he found all 11 flood gates between the West End and Leading Lights to be defunct.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it did not own the flood gates in question, but was due to carry out an inspection later this month.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, September 15, 2005
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