Hundreds of miles of the English coastline are inaccessible to the public, according to Natural England.

And miles of footpaths which provide public rights of way by the coast could vanish into the sea within 20 years because of coastal erosion, it warned.

Maps drawn up as part of plans for a coastal path around England showed 34% of the 2,478 miles (3,988km) of shore does not have full access for walkers.

On average, people can walk about two miles before finding their way blocked.

Natural England, which advises the government on the natural environment, is aiming to create a coastal path around the whole of England in a £50m scheme over the next decade.

Story on the BBC News Website.

Read the report on the Natural England website

A HAILSHAM county councillor has been rubbing shoulders with top policy-makers on coastal erosion and flood risk.

Cllr Roger Thomas, pictured, met government minister Huw Irranca-Davies, Environment Agency chairman Dr Paul Leinster and Sir Michael Pitt, author of the influential Pitt Report on flood risk, to discuss the future direction of the government’s policies in their specialist areas.

He was also a guest speaker at the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management Conference held in Birmingham and the Local Government Association’s conference, ‘The future risk of flooding’. (more…)

An historic harbour wall that is in poor condition and has been slowly crumbling into the sea is set to get a rescue package.

Waveney District Councillors are being urged next week to adopt a policy to save Southwold Harbour North Quay Wall from further collapse.

Harbour users and council officers have already agreed urgent action needs to be taken to prevent the structure from becoming even more precarious but concerns were raised over where the money to fund the repairs would come from. (more…)

A CAUTIOUS welcome has been given to the revised South Devon and Dorset Shoreline Management plan by Devon County Council.

The revised plan updates the original SMP, first published in 1998, which sets out how the coastline and coastal risks should be managed from Plymouth to Durlston Head near Swanage over the next 20, 50 and 100 years.

Consultations on the plan, prepared for South Devon and Dorset Coastal Advisory Group, end today (Friday, July 24). (more…)

CAR parks, cafes and tourist developments could be built in areas of coastal erosion as plans are unveiled to relax planning laws.

The building of any development is currently prohibited within any area affected by coastal erosion, such as Earnse Bay on Walney and land near to the Eskmeals gun range near Bootle.

But Planning Minister John Healey has outlined plans to relax laws in a bid to stimulate economic growth, which could see permission being granted for tourist developments. (more…)

PLANS to create a tidal marsh could have serious consequences for a major city commuter route.

Bridge Hill, said to be one of the busiest minor  roads in Devon, is a major route into Topsham. But the land which surrounds it could be allowed to be reclaimed by the River Clyst under proposals to cease management of its banks.

This has the potential to create up to 200 hectares of marshes which would be influenced by the tides.

The scheme is part of a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), by South Devon and Dorset Coastal Advisory Group and its member agencies, which include county and district councils, the Environment Agency, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Network Rail. (more…)

Coastal communities will get new planning powers to help their local economy and tourist industry, Housing and Planning Minister John Healey announced today.

Temporary, cost effective recreation projects such as beach huts, cafes and car-parks that can boost the local economy will be considered by councils in areas at risk of coastal erosion for the first time. (more…)

Campaigners have given a cautious welcome to government plans to relax rules allowing more developments in areas of East Anglia at risk of coastal erosion.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is considering removing the blanket ban on building in under-threat areas to boost local economies.

While development such as housing will still be forbidden, temporary schemes which could boost tourism and recreation could be allowed under the proposed changes. (more…)

Beverley and Holderness MP, Graham Stuart, has urged as many Holderness residents as possible to respond to a new Government consultation on coastal change policy.

The consultation looks at how coastal communities can successfully adapt to the impact of coastal change over the next few decades. One of the main issues the Government is keen to look at is the level of assistance afforded to homeowners who are affected by coastal erosion. For example, the consultation asks the following:

• Do you agree that it is appropriate for Government to make available public funds to local authorities to cover demolition costs for which private homeowners are currently liable?
• Is the homeowner assistance package set at the right level to strike the balance between individuals taking responsibility for their investment decisions, and ensuring that local authorities are able to provide practical assistance to homeowners who lose their home as a result of erosion? If not how could this be done?
• How should the payment mechanism for the demolition and moving assistance grant work? What evidence should be provided to Defra to support a claim for demolition and moving costs? (more…)

“Communities are central to coastal management”

That’s the headline from one section of the summer 2009 edition of Floodnews, a quarterly business briefing for professionals whose work is affected by flood and coastal erosion issues.

‘People in coastal communities have homes and businesses that they cherish. Living by the sea is part of their identity; for many it has been a defining characteristic of their family life for generations.

‘Flood risk and erosion, and their increasing threats, are emotionally tough. It strikes at the heart of personal happiness, lives and futures. Our work to consult and communicate with these communities needs to be at its very best. We are here to give them and local authorities every support we can.’ (North West Flood and Coastal Risk Manager Pete Fox) (more…)