Save
our Selsey
Campaign for Coastal Defence
Our Sea Defences - The Next Chapter
The Coast Defence Strategy (CDS) was released on 29th May 2008 and contrary to the press reports there are still areas for concern. We have until 29th August to make our voices heard.
In a nutshell the CDS is proposing the following for specific areas of our coastline:
Selsey (East Beach, Selsey Bill and West Beach)
- These areas were being treated as three separate sites and the initial proposals suggested varying types of management be adopted – meaning sea defences would be left to erode away over time on the Bill, yet be held at East & West Beach.
- The SOS campaign has resulted in all three areas now being considered as one, and the decision is to ‘Hold the Line – sustain’ (maintain & improve) existing sea defences.
- SOS is delighted with this decision – ONLY as long as it is enforced and fully funded .
- It is important to remember that funding is critical – the project is expected to cost £31 million over 20 years and £111 million over 100 years .
- Government funding is unlikely to be secured. So where will the money come from? If the cost fell on Selsey households, at this stage it’s difficult to calculate exactly what we’d have to pay. One estimate is a monthly £21 levy on our council tax – would you be willing to pay?
- Even if funding is secured, the policy must be enforced. Look at Medmerry: The current policy is “Hold the Line”, yet the sheet steel defences near the Oasis have been deliberately allowed to fail despite their being adequate budget to prevent it.
Medmerry
- This area presents a real cause for concern as the Environment Agency (EA) push forward with their plans to realign the coastline 2km inland, by letting the beach go, and slowly building earth banks around the new shoreline. On Selsey’s exposed western flank, will it work? If it doesn’t, who’ll pay to fix it?
- The proposed line takes a completely new path from any proposed before. It will result in 200+ hectares of land being allowed to flood to create habitat for wildlife – compensating for habitat lost through schemes at Portsmouth and Southampton. However, the residents and business of Portsmouth and Southampton docks will not be guaranteeing the future maintenance cost of our sea defences, meaning we bear the brunt of their ambition
- The new line will cut Bunn Leisure in half threatening, amongst other things, the loss of the Oasis complex and around half a dozen homes not previously at risk
- The EA has offered Bunn Leisure the opportunity to save the caravan site by continuing to build their rock defences to join up with the new inland banks. However, there is no guarantee Bunn will be given permission to build them – they may face the same opposition from Natural England experienced in 2007.
- Critically, if Bunn Leisure were to receive permission to extend their defences, they must guarantee to maintain them for 100 years – even though the EA doesn’t have to provide such a guarantee concerning its own inland earth defences.
- Any public defences in the Medmerry area will only be built when necessary i.e. when it’s clear how far inland the flooding will occur.
What To Do Now
For your own copy of the CDS visit www.saveourselsey.org or www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/consultations or enquire at your local library or council offices. The document’s full name is ‘Draft Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy’.
We really need to let the authorities know that we object to their plans and demand funding for proper defences. To have your say: e Mail: pehcds@environmentagency.gov.uk Write to: Pagham to East Head Draft Strategy Consultation 2008, Environment Agency, Guildbourne House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LD. Write to: Andrew Tyrie MP (tyriea@parliament.uk) House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
SOS is intending to hold a public meeting in July about the CDS so please do register on our website to ensure you are kept up to date about the date and location of this event.