Save
our Selsey
Campaign for Coastal Defence
Why SOS?
Selsey needs proper sea defences.
The original proposals on how to manage our coastline could have had a devastating financial impact for all Selsey residents. In brief, the original suggestions could have meant that:
- Selsey Bill (Hillfield Road to Lifeboat Way) was left to erode.
- Medmerry Beach was left to fail - a huge area would flood.
- We would have paid £17m to maintain the sea walls at East & West Beach.
- We would have paid £10m to protect Earnley, Bracklesham, Selsey's main road and the Peninsula's sewage works.
Under these suggestions...
- 128 homes would have been lost (no compensation to owners).
- 1150 homes would have been at risk, unless local people paid the £17m for coast defences.
- The Oasis and half the campsites could have been lost - they employ nearly 300 people, and our town's shops rely on the visitors.
- Each household in Selsey could have had to pay £1,700 simply to keep the main road connection to Chichester .
SOS (Save our Selsey) was formed to:
- Alert and inform residents and businesses to the proposals.
- Campaign for a fair solution to our coast defence, that considers the people who live and work here.
What does SOS want for Selsey?
- A guarantee of national funds to protect the town’s main road/services.
- A guarantee to maintain the existing defences until the new "strategy" is agreed.
- To be involved in the realignment planning at Medmerry (details of which are not yet resolved).
- In the absence of government help, Regional, County and District funding, support and encouragement (through planning and other measures) for private investment in coast defence.
- A clear statement of who would have to pay for the current proposals if there is no government money & how much & when they’d have to pay.
The wider aims of S.O.S.
- A sustainable solution to coast defence: some bits of coast may have to be realigned, but plans must take full account of the economic & social costs.
- A fair deal: we are all responsible for global warming, coastal residents shouldn’t be left alone to pay the price.
- Proper information & representation: the actual people who will be affected deserve proper information and a real say in the decisions. It’s their homes, jobs & futures at stake.
- Compensation: for people whose property, jobs or businesses are lost or devalued.
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| Most of this could be flooded |
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| the changing shape of Selsey Bill |