FLOOD defence work to protect Weymouth seafront could begin as soon as next year after a bid for funding worth more than £27m.

The work would include raising the Esplanade around 30cm to the height of the flowerbeds.

As reported in the Dorset Echo, protecting the town from flooding is estimated to cost around £100m, with works going on for around 30 years.

But now, Weymouth and Borough Council has put in a bid with the Local Enterprise Partnership for £27.3m.

Cllr Jeff Cant, spokesman for finance and assets, said: "This would provide us with a big contribution to the first phase of this work and we are very hopeful that they will soon respond positively.

"We hope to start this work in 2017, and it would involve raising the level of the Esplanade to around the height of the existing planters, I guess around 30cm.

"This will address the possibility of a combination of rising sea levels, an exceptional tide and onshore winds causing town centre flooding."

He added: "The cost of these works will be in excess of £20m and we expect to use this opportunity to make a real impact on the economic infrastructure as well making it more attractive to development and business investment."

Research by the Environment Agency shows there is a 'one in 200 year event' including a possibility of a combination of tide, sea level rise and wind that could flood a significant part of the town in and around Melcombe Regis.

The borough council has been working for some time to tackle the issue, and bid for funds to pay for the necessary work.

Cllr Cant added: "The threat of flooding is already an issue for investment in and around the town and the Environment Agency could impose a ban on planning consent for new development if we don’t get financial support to address the issue."

If the council can show that it has attracted funding from other sources, it could make it eligible to bid for further funding from the Environment Agency.

Cllr Cant said: "The Chancellor has, however, recently announced an extra £700 million in flood defence funding on top of the £2.3 billion of planned spending up to 2021 so our negotiations with them continue.

"There is a considerable sympathy for our case amongst a number of potential partners in helping us to resolve this and widespread negotiations are ongoing. We are very hopeful that the next news will be positive."