MORE than 125 people flocked to a Jurassic Coast Pathfinder exhibition that sparked debate on Sidmouth’s crumbling coast.

Recharging beach at Pennington Point or extending town-centre sea defences to the east were suggested by those who attended the event at Kennaway House last Thursday, writes Charlie Lister.

Residents and visitors got the chance to learn more about coastal erosion and get involved in making decisions about managing the coastline. (more…)

CONCERNED residents have launched a petition against coastal defence plans which could see the partial demolition of an historic promenade.

Hundreds of homes on Hartlepool’s Headland, the historic Heugh Gun Battery, St Bega’s Primary School, the lighthouse and the memorial are under threat from coastal erosion within the next 100 years unless millions of pounds is spent on sea defences.

Hartlepool Borough Council brought in Mott MacDonald consultants to examine the first lines of defence and they have put forward four options, three of which include various ways of strengthening the sea wall.

But it is the fourth – and cheapest option – to demolish the sea wall and promenade, adjacent to the Town Moor, that has angered residents. (more…)

A fund worth more than £23.7m for the UK’s coastal communities has been announced by Chancellor George Osborne.

The fund represents half of the gross revenues from the Crown Estate’s marine activities.

The Scottish government has said the announcement does not go nearly far enough in returning money to the areas where it is raised. (more…)

Coastal communities across the region could soon bid for a slice of government money to help rejuvenate their area, it emerged last night.

The chancellor of the exchequer and chief secretary to the treasury will today announce the launch of a Coastal Communities Fund, which will support a wide range of projects.

The multi-million-pound fund is designed to support the economic development of coastal communities and will be available on a bid basis. (more…)

The Environment Agency (EA) wants to hear residents’ views on major new plans to protect hundreds of homes between Emsworth and East Head in West Wittering from flooding.

The aim is to strengthen the coastline where needed at Thorney Island, Southbourne, Nutbourne, Chidham, Bosham, Fishbourne, Birdham and West Itchenor.

The EA is now looking in more detail at this generally low-lying area which includes substantial areas of farmland on reclaimed intertidal marshes. (more…)

HUNDREDS of homes in Aberaeron and New Quay will be lost to the sea if action is not taken now to protect them over the next hundred years, a shock new report warns.

Ceredigion Council is currently consulting on the latest Shoreline Management Plan, which seeks to address the challenges caused by rising water levels. The report predicts a two-metre rise over the next 50 to 100 years leaving residents in New Quay making a desperate plea for action to prevent their homes crumbling into the sea as a result of cliff top erosion.

Story on the Cambrian News website

In a statement to Parliament, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, opening the Debate on Resolutions for the Sovereign Grant Bill said:

And we will shortly be setting out proposals, unconnected to this legislation, to make sure coastal communities can benefit from the development of the Crown Estate marine activities.