Publication: “Selsey Life” June 2007

SOS

Although the initial consultation on the Coast Defence Strategy has closed, SOS has been really active behind the scenes.

We have obtained “key partner” status with the Environment Agency, which means we can keep involved in the decision-making process, as the Agency and the District Council move towards producing a “draft strategy”.

More publicly, we endorsed 5 independent candidates in the recent Chichester District Council elections. We were pleased that all five received a considerable share of the popular vote, with Fred Robertson and Roland O’Brien being elected as Councillors. We hope Fred and Roland will be able to persuade the new Council to look more favourably upon the need to preserve all Selsey’s coast defences.

This support has been reflected by SOS’s growing membership. There are now well over a thousand supporters (some 10% of Selsey’s population). Many people have used the saveourselsey.org website to register their support, but many others have used the registration boxes in the Selsey Town Hall and at “In Stiches”(89, High St). We thank Selsey Town Council, and Blanche Butlin at “In Stiches”, for their support.

SOS has been recognised as a significant local community group by our schools, and has been invited to speak at assemblies. At Manhood Community College, children are now researching SOS as part of their citizenship studies. At Seal Primary School, children have been looking at our work, and SOS is giving Sidlesham Primary School a guided walk of the sea defences. The enthusiasm of the children is fantastic.

We are working with Andrew Tyrie MP to form a steering committee on coast defence. We hope to finalise the arrangements shortly. The committee will provide a representative forum for coastal residents and businesses to share their views with Andrew, so he can promote our agenda in parliament and with Ministers.

We want to thank all our supporters for their enthusiasm and assistance: our network of dedicated supporters enabled us to deliver SOS’s “bulletin No 2” to every house in Selsey, in early May. Finally, if you haven’t registered, it is free to do so: simply log onto saveourselsey.org, or fill out the registration forms in the locations mentioned above.