Sea defence campaigners and residents have had the chance to shape the future of Medmerry after updated discussions with the Environment Agency (EA) about coastal protection.

During a meeting at Selsey Town Hall, residents had the opportunity to come up with their own ideas on how they wanted to protect Medmerry, where homes have been close to crumbling and being lost to the sea for good.

It was decided the option of managed realignment would be carried out at the coastal village in the EA’s Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy introduced last year.

New defences would be built inland, improving protection for 951 homes over the next 100 years.

Residents had the chance to submit where they would like to see the sea defence boundaries moved.

“We received quite a mixture of responses, but people have been very positive,” said EA’s project manager for realignment at Medmerry, Joe Pearce.

“Opportunities have been presented to us and we need to incorporate habitats for species into the scheme. The boundaries need to improve long-term protection.”

The Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy was approved by Chichester and Arun District Councils in October 2008 and is now in the final stages of gaining EA approval.

The managed realignment scheme would give additional protection to key infrastructure in Selsey, including the B2145 road, the wastewater treatment works north of Selsey and electricity substations.

The need for new intertidal habitat to replace losses across the Solent has been recognised as a pressing issue which can be addressed through the scheme.

This has enabled the EA to negotiate with owners and purchase more than 500 hectares of the land.

The EA has also spoken to John Bunn, managing director of Bunn Leisure, and his consultants about sea defences.

Mr Bunn has opted to privately fund his own protection of his business on the coast of Selsey, which lies next to Medmerry.

Story in the West Sussex Gazette