Publication: “Selsey Life” September 2007

SOS

We were very pleased to participate in Lifeboat Launch Day, where the SOS stand attracted lots of attention. We talked to many, many people and signed up 65 new supporters. All those we spoke to were really supportive and encouraging, making it a pleasure for the volunteers manning the stand. We also sold quite a few SOS tee-shirts. We’d like to thank everyone for their support, and also the RNLI, for organising such a brilliant event.

Two coast defence proposals await planning consent. Firstly, the District Council’s application to rebuild the sea wall that collapsed in March, along Clayton Road. The real questions here are: will government funding come and, if so, will it arrive before the autumn storms do? We have been urging the Council to have a “plan B” if no government money is forthcoming, to ensure the existing temporary repairs are shored up before winter.

Secondly, Bunn Leisure has applied to put a rock revetment along a 200m length of Medmerry beach (near the Oasis). The Environment Agency claims it is “maintaining” this frontage, but the reality is very different (and we all know it). Its management approach has been to rip out groynes, remove brestworks and stop adding new shingle. The result has been a rapid erosion of 10m of beach, which now leaves the caravan park and leisure facilities at risk.

Bunn Leisure’s plans show that their scheme won’t damage adjoining frontages, so we hope planning consent is given. We fail to see how the authorities could refuse the company permission to use its own money to protect its investment, and the jobs that go with it. This is an important test of whether people will be allowed to defend themselves, when they have, shamefully, been abandoned by the authorities.

Following a private meeting with Andrew Tyrie in April, SOS took up the MP’s suggestion to assemble a new forum on coast defence. We recently organised the first meeting of this group (the Manhood Peninsula Steering Group), which brings together resident, business and community representatives, and is co-chaired by Mr Tyrie and Roland O’Brien.

SOS believes that most coastal forums unhesitatingly agree to the government guidelines on what is an “acceptable” way of defending the coast. The guidelines are widely acknowledged to be inflexible, prescriptive, and to marginalise the rights of people. The result of accepting these strictures is that policy doesn’t reflect the needs of the coastal community.

We hope that the MPSG will decide to take an alternative approach, which focuses on the aspirations of people affected, and then develops practical solutions that are sensitive to their needs. SOS is well placed to assist the MPSG in taking a proactive approach to solving our coast defence problems.

Finally, SOS was delighted to meet a delegation of young people from the Manhood Community College, who handed over some 400 letters written by the students. Addressed to the District Council, the letters asked for action to defend our coast and thereby preserve our community. SOS member Councillor Fred Robertson later presented the letters to the Council, who have promised a reply.

This action shows the strength of feeling about the coast defence issue on the Manhood Peninsula and the pride that people of all ages take in their community. The students sent a very strong message to the authorities, who will have to treat the letters with the respect they deserve. SOS hopes the young people will continue to take an active part in community affairs, and looks forward to working with them in the future.