Save our Selsey

Sea Defences

If You Live, Work or Holiday in Selsey This Affects You!

Ben Cooper, Vice Chairman, Save Our Selsey

Over the past year, since the inception of SOS (Save Our Selsey), it has become clear that Selsey divides into three main groups when it comes to coast defences:

People living on or very near the coast who are very concerned
People who care about the future of the village and understand the benefits of strong sea defences
People who believe that the sea defences do not affect them in any way

The future of Selsey’s sea defences is currently up for discussion. The Environment Agency (EA) is planning to publish a report in May 2008 detailing how the defences will be managed in future years. For those of you in ‘group 3’ above, we need you to understand why sea defences affect you and why your say in the ‘consultation’ is vital to Selsey’s future.

Why Sea Defences Affect You?

Caravans/Tourism – love them or loath them, holidaymakers are critical to Selsey’s economy. For every £1 spent by a tourist, £3 is generated locally. If the caravan parks are jeopardised there would be a ripple effect – from Budgens to the local window cleaners. Ultimately less money in means less money to go round!
Drainage – the land drainage, which prevents north and west Selsey from flooding, would be put at risk. Sesley naturally drains to Medmerry and so a large expanse of water, caused by setting back of the coastline, would change the natural drainage path of the village increasing the risk of flooding for us all.
Services – Selsey’s road, sewage and power come into the village from the western side. The EA has not said, in any public documentation on this issue, how any of these services will be safeguarded. We only have one road in and out – it’s vital to protect it! A similar EA scheme to the one proposed in Selsey has now left the people of Slapton Leys (in South Devon) with restricted access to their village.
The Future – discussion with the EA has left SOS unconvinced that any of these issues would be properly addressed by its proposed realignment scheme.

Why Opposing EA’s Plans will Improve Selsey’s Future

This may all sound very bleak, but actually the consultation offers Selsey residents the opportunity to dictate a better future for the village. So what could we achieve?

Alternative Access to the Village – a proper sea wall from Bunn Leisure to Earnley would offer the protection to build a second road into the village – something which has long been requested by the residents
Sustainable Energy – a sensible coastal defence plan which protects Medmerry would offer the opportunity for alternative energy generation e.g. wind and wave power. A proportion of this energy could be specifically for Selsey residents, making us self-sufficient and reducing energy bills
Tourism – once Medmerry is protected a number of schemes such as cycle routes, a habitat centre (on RSPB land) and an eco centre could be considered generating increased revenue for the local economy
The Future – by saying ‘no’ to managed realignment Selsey leaves the door open for all manner of future projects which would add to and improve this wonderful seaside village

What You Need to Do Now

Firstly, register your support for SOS at www.saveourselsey.org or complete a membership form at the Town Hall, In Stitches or Comptons Farm Shop

Also, read Selsey Life and the Chichester Observer or keep tuned to local radio stations so you know what’s happening when and how to make your voice heard!