‘It’s a treasured local wildlife site,’ said Andy Manville from the Environment Agency, as the agency confirmed repair works later this month at Widewater Lagoon on the Lancing shoreline in West Sussex. The job is clear: fix the seawater pipe that keeps the lagoon’s levels steady for wildlife and visitors alike.

According to the Environment Agency, the mitigation pipe allows seawater to enter the lagoon at high tide, maintaining appropriate water levels and supporting the site’s diverse wildlife. Without timely maintenance, the balance can be lost and the habitat suffers.

Routine inspections found the seaward section of the pipe and its timber frame have worn and now need replacing. Crews are due on site from late January, with activity scheduled through to the end of March 2026, subject to tides and conditions.

Funding comes from the existing beach management budget for the Shoreham and Lancing frontage rather than a new pot. It’s a modest piece of infrastructure with a big job, and the agency says keeping it working is the most efficient option.

There will be short-term disruption. Beach access in the immediate area will be restricted while the works are underway, and some weekend shifts may be needed to hit the right tide windows. The Environment Agency has thanked residents for their patience and says it will keep disturbance to a minimum.

Planning has involved Tom Rutland MP, the World of Widewater (WoW) committee, Lancing Parish Council, and Adur & Worthing Council. Local volunteers have long taken pride in the lagoon, and the agency says the partnership has helped shape a practical timetable.

Manville described Widewater as a ‘treasured local wildlife site’ and said the work would help it ‘flourish for years to come’, stressing that safety and access management will be handled sensitively. It’s the sort of steady, unshowy maintenance coastal places depend on.

Widewater is designated as a Local Wildlife Site and draws regular walkers as well as birdlife. Environment Agency images show worn timber piles around the pipe; these will be replaced to keep the lagoon functioning as intended.

For northern readers, the lesson travels well: small bits of coastal engineering like this underpin habitats from the Humber to Morecambe Bay. Fixing the basics before they fail is cheaper, safer and better for wildlife-something parish councils and volunteer groups across the North know from experience.

Residents seeking updates can contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506506 or via SLTSDN.APadur.arun@environment-agency.gov.uk. Works are expected to run from late January to the end of March 2026, with progress shaped by the weather and the tides.