Save
our Selsey
Campaign for Coastal Defence
Selsey
Life Sep 08
Coast Defences - Job Done?
With the consultation on coast defences now closed, you may be wondering what SOS will do now? Having spoken to the key groups making a formal response and having canvassed opinion from the residents of Selsey it looks like the Environment Agency (EA) will push forward with the plans set out in the strategy.
Therefore our fight/campaign now takes on two directions:
Funding – Many of you will have noted that whilst the policy for Selsey’s urban sea defences is ‘Hold the Line Sustain’, the likelihood of funding is not good and a policy without money is like a fast car without wheels. The most obvious source of funding (Central Govt) is not going to happen as they don’t believe the benefits outweigh the costs. So the debate will now turn to see who/how else we get the money to deliver the policy. At present there are few viable alternatives as any option must offer 100 years of investment (counting out private money in most cases). The Government would have the people of Selsey pay, by way of a council tax increase, but we strongly oppose this as it is not just the people of Selsey that use our beaches and so why should we carry the cost?
Realignment – With realignment at Medmerry now looking like a dead cert our role and yours will be to ensure it offers maximum protection. Simply moving earth into banks wont work so we are pushing for a more stable/reinforced design which will last for 100 years and will protect Selsey from the west. We have lots of ideas on the design and what else could be included, but the EA and CDC need to know how the people of Selsey think this should be carried out. So as with funding, we would like to throw open the debate and ask for your thoughts.
We are hopeful that the EA will involve us in the discussions on funding and realignment so we can work to ensure our car gets it wheels. If so, we will have a genuine opportunity to influence the debate but we need to have your comments – whatever they are! We would therefore like to invite you to submit any ideas you have to us at www.saveourselsey.org or you can drop ideas into the membership mailboxes in the town hall, Comptons farm shop and In Stitches.