There was a good turnout to a series of public meetings on protecting the island’s harbours and coastal communities from flooding.
Community meetings organised by the Department of Infrastructure took place last week in Laxey, Castletown, Port St Mary and Ramsey.
Presentations were given by consultants on long-term solutions to improve sea defences locally.
Flood management specialist JBA Consulting published a report in January that suggested that up to £31.8m is needed to protect the island long-term from rising sea levels.
It looked at the options for seven sites considered most at risk – Castletown, Douglas, Laxey, Ramsey, Peel, Port St Mary and Gansey.
Those options include raised harbour walls, set back walls, tidal gates, rock armour and also beach recharge schemes - where sand loss to erosion is replenished.
About 40 people attended the community meeting held at Port St Mary town hall last Friday.
They heard options for a raised sea wall or rock armour revetment recommended for Port St Mary harbour.
Further along the coast at Gansey, the cheapest option would involve raising the wall which would cost £1m.
But the consultants said this would have a detrimental impact on the landscape, blocking the view of the sea from the road and the properties behind. Instead, they recommend a new rock revetment, costing £8.3m.
To protect Castletown harbour from future flooding, a combination of raised harbour walls and set back walls have been recommended.
A set back wall at a cost of £4.4m has been recommended to protect Central and Queen’s promenades in Douglas against flooding and overtopping by waves. A similar method is suggested for Ramsey harbour and coast.