Three Kent beaches will be closed over the next month as a flood defence scheme costing almost half a million pounds gets underway. Repairs to sea defences in Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown started on Wednesday and are set to last four weeks. The area between Oldstairs Bay by the Zetland Arms in Kingsdown and north Deal around Sandown Castle – a stretch of almost four miles – will be worked on. Contractors are currently focusing on the Deal area, and part of the beach around the pier is out of bounds as heavy plant machinery moves the shingle. Dover District Council (DDC) says further works betwee…