MORE than £700,000 is to be spent over the next year on protecting the Hampshire coastline from the threat of flooding.

The environment Agency (EA) announced funding for more than a dozen new flood defence schemes in the region, including plans to artificially “recharge” two popular beaches.

Thousands of tonnes of shingle could be pumped on to the vanishing beaches at Netley Cliff and in front of the Royal Victoria Country Park.

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About 300,000 cubic metres of white shingle would be dumped along the one-mile stretch to increase the volume and height of the beaches by three metres.

Erosion The high-tide shoreline had lost about half a metre of beach depth to erosion since the scheme was first proposed 12 years ago.

The colour of the beach would change from a dull brown to a bright white, but more importantly it would act as an effective sea defence for up to 50 years.

The recharge is likely to go ahead next year, but only after a full environmental impact assessment is carried out.

Elsewhere, more than £400,000 is to be spent on improvements to minimise the risk of drains becoming blocked.

Trash screens will be installed at Fishlake Siphon and Greatbridge Industrial Estate in Romsey, Faukland Road in Eastleigh and in central Southampton.

Steel sheet pile defence on the Danes Stream in Milford on Sea will be replaced at a cost of £60,000 and a £35,000 study to investigate ways to reduce flooding at Bartley Water, in the New Forest, will be launched.

Earlier this week the EA announced more than 20,000 homes in Hampshire and West Sussex had been automatically added to its flood warning system.