Weston has never had a genuine tidal flood

CONTINUING the proposed sea wall debate I believe John Ley Morgan and Kris Kimitri are both intelligent men and so I wonder if their refusal to differentiate between splash water and tidal flooding is due to pure bloody mindedness, local politics, or listening to the loudest voices rather than experts.The sea front splash water/spray that flies inland on a westerly gale is no worse than in 1907 and will never get worse than it is. Its effects are minimal, a four inch flood at worst, although the effect on the seafront is worse than 1907 because of Mr Kimitri's colleagues having removed their front walls to create car parking.Weston has never had a genuine tidal flood that would allow water to pour over the sea wall into the Melrose car park, the Italian Gardens, and down Knightstone Road and Regent Street. The danger of such a flood increases with rising sea level, which is now estimated at about one foot by 2040. Any such catastrophe would flood Baker Street to nine feet, Alma Street to seven feet, and High Street to about five feet.The controversial inner wall is designed to block off any such inflow and to carry it away to the south. It is a perfectly logical plan designed by experts and funded by the Government. The proposed marina would not affect sea level or protect Weston town if the tidal surge was higher than the wall. This problem has nothing to do with waves but emerges from volume of water. Sea spray can cause wet socks behind Lloyds Bank. A tidal flood could close Weston down for several years. Anyone willing to drown to prove a point is an idiot.BRIAN AUSTIN - Alma Street, WestonEDITOR'S NOTE: Until something new emerges we will not be carrying any more letters on the sea wall debate.