The Environment Agency has been asked to reconsider its strategy to abandon flood defences around the Blyth estuary in Suffolk.

The agency plans to abandon the line of defence within 20 years, and withdraw maintenance from flood banks and defences in the rest of the estuary. But the strength of opposition to the managed realignment strategy, which saw residents campaigning to the prime minister when he visited the local seaside town of Southwold this summer, has prompted the EA’s eastern area regional flood defence committee (RFDC) to request a rethink.

Anthony Coe, RFDC chairman, said: ‘The committee has asked the Environment Agency to have another look at the strategy to take better account of the work being done in partnership on the Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan and a study looking in detail at the harbour.’