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Campaign for Coastal Defence
Selsey
Life Aug 08
The Coast Defence Strategy in More Detail
Now that we have read the full strategy on coast defence and met with the Environment Agency (EA), we would like to share with you the basis of our consultation response. Whether you agree with us or not, we urge every Selsey resident to read ‘Planning for the Future’ and submit a response. Details of how to respond can be found inside the back cover of Planning for the future.
SOS’ overriding policy for coastal defences is ‘Hold the Line’ SUSTAIN (for as long as the community considers it worthwhile). We believe any realignment of the coastline is dangerous and potentially impossible to reverse.
East & West Beaches and Selsey Bill
SOS welcomes the decision to combine all 3 ‘urban frontages’ into a single unit and the proposed policy of Hold the Line – Sustain.
However, due to the amount of work this policy requires (because maintenance has been neglected/under funded for many years) the cost of delivering the policy outweighs the value of the protection it delivers. The policy is therefore unlikely to get national funding. If Hold the Line - Sustain were adopted without national funding, the erosion of our urban sea defences would continue.
Medmerry Cliffs
The ‘grandiose’ stretch from Coastguard tower to Bunn leisure is overlooked in Planning for the Future, but the detailed strategy proposes ‘no active intervention’. This would allow erosion, ultimately leaving access to Bunn leisure and West Street vulnerable. We want to see this changed to Hold the Line - Sustain, protecting west Selsey and the SSSI
Medmerry
The EA are proposing a realignment of the coast between Bunn Leisure and Earnley, creating a 200 hectare flooded harbour similar to Pagham. They suggest this is a stable and cost effective option and protects Selsey’s services (sewage works, B2145), West Selsey and Ham for a period of 100 years.
However, whilst we believe ground breaking and sensible alternatives exist, which protect Selsey from the west, we are advised realignment is the only scheme likely to secure government funding. To adopt a different policy without national funding would simply mean defences are left to erode introducing uncontrolled flooding of the surrounding area.
Whilst realignment goes against our overriding policy we could be encouraged to support realignment at Medmerry if, and ONLY IF the landowners/community:
Agree with it Are fully compensated (guaranteed) for loss of land/property Are involved in the design of the defences Are assured of long term maintenance.
It is clear from this consultation that the future is all about money and who pays. Various options, including a local council tax levy, have been suggested for how defences are funded in the absence of Government money. We believe that the Manhood Peninsula plays a massive part in ‘UK PLC’ and this should therefore be a nationally funded programme which is paid for by all those that enjoy our coast line, not simply those directly affected by it.