WALNEY residents whose homes are at risk of being washed into the sea have been snubbed by a government minister.

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock has now pledged to sit down with residents and town hall officials to consider the options after Richard Benyon refused his request to meet a local delegation to discuss the issue.

Mr Woodcock said: “The problem of coastal erosion at Earnse Bay is of pressing concern.

“Bit-by-bit the coastline is crumbling into the sea and this is causing alarm among residents of the West Shore Park site.

“I wrote to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs minister Richard Benyon in November asking him to meet us.

“He has declined that invitation, which I find disappointing given the serious nature of this issue and I feel sure that residents of north Walney will be frustrated by his decision. I had hoped that the meeting would go some way towards putting people’s minds at ease and sorting out the problem, but we are back where we were.

“I will be contacting residents and borough council officials so we can talk about options – such as exploring new ways of securing funding to build better sea defences.”

In his letter to Mr Woodcock the minister said he had no direct influence on the choice of projects that are granted funding.

Over recent years tidal erosion has affected many parts of the Furness coastline, with the Earnse Bay foreshore problem being particularly acute. Barrow Borough Council is the authority responsible for coastal protection.

It has made a number of applications to the Environment Agency seeking support to tackle the Earnse Bay erosion issue, as yet without success.

A Defra spokesman said: “Defra has no direct influence on which coastal erosion projects are allocated funding.

“The Environment Agency, which takes these decisions, has offered to meet with John Woodcock at his earliest convenience.”

Story in the North West Evening Mail

AN MP is demanding government ministers step into the battle to stop homes being washed into the sea.

Residents of West Shore Park on Walney have been increasingly concerned over recent years that coastal erosion at Earnse Bay will lead to their homes being flooded.

But now Barrow MP John Woodcock hopes to lead a delegation to meet the environment minister in Whitehall in a bid to resolve the issue once and for all.

In a letter to Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs minister Richard Benyon, Mr Woodcock wrote: “I am requesting a meeting to discuss ways to tackle the level and speed of coastal erosion that is taking place at Earnse Bay, Walney Island, within my constituency.

“The issue is one of very considerable concern to residents and local councillors, most especially those who live at the West Shore Park site in immediate proximity to where the sea is eroding the foreshore.

“West Shore Park has approximately 400 chalet-style homes whose residents, each passing winter, live in increasing fear of the encroaching sea.

“As the authority responsible for coastal protection, Barrow Borough Council has made a number of applications to the Environment Agency seeking support for measures to protect the coast at Earnse Bay, but as yet with no success. They hope, however, that revised arrangements for distribution of supporting grants might provide an opportunity for this to be reconsidered.”

In March, last year, a report by the Environment Agency claimed that more than 100 metres of the island’s coastline had been lost in 30 years.

But this estimate was disputed by local experts.

Mr Woodcock said the crumbling coastline was a menace to the people living on the residential park and he urged the minister to set up a meeting as soon as possible.

If and when the minister fixes a date to meet the delegation, it is envisaged that Mr Woodcock will be accompanied by residents, representatives of Barrow Borough Council and a senior officer from the town hall.

Mr Woodcock said: “Coastal erosion is a problem in several parts of Furness but it is particularly acute at Earnse Bay.

“In recent years temporary sea defences in the form of large rocks have been put in place, but on big tides the sea comes over them.

“It is time the residents of West Shore Park had their minds put at ease and I hope our meeting with the minister can find a solution.”

Tony Callister, who represents Walney North on Barrow Borough Council, said: “I would like to echo John’s words, but also I am very concerned with the continuous adverse weather that we experience along our coastline.

“And after several months cross-negotiating with Barrow Borough Council and the owners of the park, Embra, we can come to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible.”

Story in the North West Evening Mail

A SHORELINE management plan to protect coastal communities against rising tides for the next 100 years has been adopted by South Lakeland District Council.

The plan is in response to the predicted rise in sea levels because of global warming with local authorities around the country preparing to defend threatened coastlines.

Proposed policies for each section of South Lakeland are set out in the plan and in most cases the council feels that no intervention is needed in the short term and agrees that a “hold the line” approach be adopted.

But some of the proposals for the medium to long term are as follows:

• Protect Arnside and Sandside in the Kent Estuary from flooding and erosion by creating flood storage areas and realign-ing existing defences.
• Set back defences in the Cartmel Peninsular and Duddon estuaries to protect the infrastructure and properties in the main villages and towns.
• Realign the flood risk area to protect property and infrastructure at Greenodd and allow the estuary to return to a more natural state.
• Allow the natural functioning of the shoreline in the Leven Estuary with the flood zone between Canal Foot and Ulverston needing protection in the long term.

“No properties in our area are at risk of coastal erosion in the next 20 to 50 years and this will be reviewed over time,” said Coun Clare Feeney-Johnson, portfolio holder for the environment and sustainability. “This plan will allow us to protect our communities over the long-term and preserve our coastline in the best possible ways.

“More importantly by accepting the plans which span the whole of the North West we, along with other authorities, can work with the Environment Agency and apply for funding for flood protection where we need it most.”

The plan, drawn up from a review of the coastline from Great Ormes Head in Wales to the Solway Firth in the Scottish Borders, was approved by SLDC’s cabinet.

Story by Scott Kirk in the Westmoreland Gazette

COASTAL defences around Millom may only be actively maintained for the next 20 years, according to a new report.

The proposals, identified in Shoreline Management Plan 2, show minimal intervention would be taken after 20 years at Millom Marshes, while coast between Haverigg and Eskmeals could see no active intervention at all.

The consultation document outlines potential policies for the future of the coastline in the North West and North Wales and identifies a handful of area in South Copeland as receiving protection.

The plan labels sections of coast with one of four categories advance the line – which would see new defences built on the seaward side of existing protection, hold the line – which would see repairs done, managed realignment – which sees minimal intervention and no active intervention – which allows the shoreline to naturally realign.

Villages such as Kirkby and Askam could be actively defended for the next 50 years, but Millom Marshes to the south of the town has been classed as ‘hold the line’ for just 20 years before being removed to “managed realignment”.

Red Hills, the town’s former industrial area would see no active intervention, though Haverigg and Hodbarrow Nature reserve would be defended. The potential threat was highlighted at the latest Millom Town Council meeting by councillor Brian Crawford. Cllr Crawford spoke of his concern regarding the proposed stance towards the issue.

He said: “I have a copy of the results of the latest consultation on shoreline management and I am very concerned. They are not going to bother with areas just past Haverigg and further on the Duddon Estuary.

“With the predicted rise in sea levels they will totally wipe out areas like the railway system between here and Askam.”

Cllr Crawford argued the study highlighted the potential importance of a tidal barrage across the Duddon Estuary.

He said: “One of the tick boxes for the Duddon barrage is if it is constructed it will provide some protection.

“This sort of thing can seriously affect the future of an area.”

The document is currently in the final draft stages and will open for consultation with councillors by late summer with a plan of being “signed off” by December this year.

Story in the North West Evening Mail

HISTORIC landmarks could disappear off the map in years to come due to coastal erosion.

The 39 “at risk” sites outlined in the English Heritage North West Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey include a pre-historic site at Eskmeals and the Ravenglass Roman fort. St John’s Church at Waberthwaite, the motte and bailey remains of the medieval Aldingham castle and quarries at Baycliff and Greenodd are also said to be at risk in the long-term.

The remains of Aldingham castle, believed to date back to the 12th Century, sit on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Robert Wheatley, of Baycliff and chairman of Aldingham’s St Cuthbert’s Church restoration committee, is well aware of the coastal erosion at that point. He said: “All along the coastline where the motted castle was, the erosion is quite bad and along by the church and just after it is terrible.

“Huge pieces of land have just fallen into the sea and it looks quite horrific.

“Obviously if landmarks like those were to disappear, it would be a disaster. The church wall for defence against the sea was built in 1828. “It’s getting a battering and becoming rather vulnerable.

“Here at Baycliff, right along the coastline, it is amazing how, over the last few years, the land has fallen away into the sea. And there are literally dozens of huge pieces, not small ones. It’s always on our [church restoration committee’s] mind and it’s always a worry and to repair the sea wall would require an awful lot of money, which I believe should be grant-aided taking into account the church is Grade II* listed.”

The Rev Anne Baker, vicar at Waberthwaite’s St John’s Church, which is believed to date back to Norman times, said: “A few years ago when we had a bad storm, some trees were blown down and one just missed the church by a hair’s breadth and some of the banking was eroded then. But there is no sign of any imminent danger in that respect. I suppose the question is: is there anything we can do in the present to lessen the chance of that happening? The church has stood there, almost as it is now, for almost the last 1,000 years and it would be a great shame for it to come to any harm.”

Story in the North West Evening Mail

Visit the English Heritage website to access Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Surveys

WALNEY stalwarts have dismissed claims the island has lost 100 metres of its coastline in 30 years as “rubbish”.

John Murphy has dedicated his life to studying local nature and history.

While he does not deny that parts of Walney, Piel Island and other areas along the shoreline are suffering from erosion, he refuses to believe Walney has lost 100 metres of its coastline in the last 30 years.

The amateur naturalist also said there was no way Piel had suffered that amount of damage.

Mr Murphy, of Mikasa Street, Walney, said: “I’ve lived on Walney for 60 years and I have never seen erosion of that scale.

“100 metres? Rubbish. Absolute rubbish.

“I’ve been going to Piel Island for 60 years, Piel Island hasn’t washed away. Rubbish.”

Councillor Des Barlow, who represents North Walney on Barrow Borough Council, has been at the forefront of the debate surrounding coastal erosion on the island over the years, campaigning for flood defences to be put in place.

Despite his concerns, he also found the new claims hard to believe.

He said: “I have lived on this island for 45 years and no way have we lost that much.

“If it was eroding that fast, the whole island would be gone by now.

“Certainly if it was eroding that quickly, Furness Golf Club would be gone.

“Piel Island is only a small island, if 100 metres of that had gone every 30 years, the island would be non-existent.

“There is no way we have lost that in the time I have been here. I have seen what’s happened over the years and it’s nowhere like that, though it is bad enough.”

Despite disagreeing with the levels of erosion claimed to be taking place, Cllr Barlow is still keen to see more protection for the island.

He said: “Walney Island is not very wide as it is.

“If it is eroding at that speed, we soon won’t have an island left. “I think we should protect these historical sites, and most importantly, we should protect people’s dwellings.”

But Mr Murphy says we must learn to accept the future of our shorelines.

He says the land swept away from parts of Walney will re-form at another point on the coastline, continuously rebuilding and re-shaping the island.

Mr Murphy said: “It’s a constant natural process. That’s what happens.

“If you look at it from the other angle, at the potential loss of properties, for instance at Earnse Bay, that is a problem, and it is a problem that needs to be addressed in some way.

“But nobody can play King Canute, you cannot stop the tides.

“You can’t stop what is a natural process, or change erosion.

“There are some historical sites on Walney that are important, but how can you stop it? Building a sea defence is ludicrous.

“The whole beach is an area of scientific interest, so how can you build a wall to stop the tide coming in?

“If you were to bring in a bulldozer, you are destroying one of the most important natural habitats in the North of England. You certainly can’t bring in a big bulldozer, and build a big wall and stop the tide. You just can’t.”

But Cllr Barlow remains determined that something must be done to save the island in its current form.

He said: “I think especially where there are people living, you have to protect their lives and their livelihoods.

“I understand that it is a natural process and that would be fine, but not on an island like Walney, which has such a large population and is not very wide at all.”

The report carried out for English Heritage will now be passed on and used to plan what should be done to protect the coastline.

Meanwhile, the historical group said it would be doing its best to maintain local archaeological sites by other means.

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: “English Heritage’s role is to ensure that protection of the historic environment is factored into government decisions on coastal defence.

“The results of the survey will be fed into the North West Shoreline Management Plan currently being developed by the coastal local authorities in the North West, led by Blackpool Council, in consultation with other stakeholders and the general public.

“The findings will also inform the way we protect properties in our care.

“Some work has already been carried out at Piel Castle, for example, to address the issue of erosion.”

Story in the North West Evening Mail

A COASTAL community has vowed to continue its fight to have long-term sea defences installed on its shore after the Environment Agency refused to fund the project.

Bootle beach is currently categorised under the government’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) as “no active intervention”.

That would mean the beach and nearby Eskmeals gun range road would be allowed to wash away.

An emergency meeting was held with villagers, Copeland Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and the Environment Agency in a bid to get the government to change the policy and defend the beach.

Mike Fell, team leader for the Environment Agency’s flood and coastal risk management group, said the sea defences were not financially viable.

He said: “Our funding now is national funding, and the work we do is prioritised. Would the defences be sustainable? Would you spend £10m to protect two houses?

“It is not a financial option. If we haven’t got the money we can’t do it. It would be cheaper in the long run to move the road back, rather than build a big sea wall to keep the weather back.”

The SMP is a government plan for the country’s coastline defences.

It has written the plan to prioritise which coastlines it will invest cash into saving, and which it will leave for nature to take its course.

The SMP has to be passed by borough councillors before it can be sent back to the government.

Bootle’s borough councillor and ex-Copeland mayor Keith Hitchen said: “We all know the government is strapped for cash, but there are ways and means. We can make things happen if we work together. This plan is not signed off. It won’t get signed off by the majority of councillors if it doesn’t change what it is saying.

“How can we do it, what do we need to do?

“So I’m asking those people who control what happens with the beach at Bootle to sit down with this parish council and say how we can make it happen. I want to make sure we can put some defences on the beach that don’t ruin the beauty of the beach, but enhance it.

“Things have got to change and we will fight all the way along the line. We aren’t just losing a beach, we are losing a national asset.”

Initially residents of Bootle said the borough council, which has been tasked with managing coastal erosion, had stood in the way of installing short-term concrete defences on the beach.

David Bucheli, coastal erosion technician for the borough council, has agreed to back the villagers’ fight to obtain a licence to install the blocks.

He said: “We are all happy about it. I can’t see any issues that would arise. The blocks should be seen as a short-term solution.”

Bootle parish councillor Trudy Harrison said: “Bootle Parish Council is strongly opposing the SMP proposal towards no active intervention, with specific regard to the area of coastline known as Stubb Place. The council is pushing for a decision instead, to manage re-alignment in this 200-metre stretch to protect the road.

“The national park is also positively involved and keen to improve the beach area.

“The next step is to obtain consent and a licence from The Marine and Fisheries Agency, then design a scheme to both protect and enhance the area for all to use and enjoy.

“We now have an active group of supporters, growing by the day, proving the point that, given encouragement and permission, communities will help themselves.”

The road is the only link road to the Ministry of Justice’s Eskmeals Gun range, which employs hundreds of workers.

Managers for the range said work to install the concrete blocks would be organised and funded locally.

Cumbria County Council is in charge of maintaining the road.

Council Highways engineer John Dell said: “The county council has a duty to maintain the surface of the road. The definition of the road is two spades deep. If the road gets washed away, that responsibility gets washed away with it.

“The county council has produced some schemes to defend the road at that point near Bootle. We don’t have defence funding.

“We are not the defence authority, so we have no power to defend the coast. We were going to put things in, but we were refused permission to do this, so we are left with an undefended road.”

The fight to save the beach is part of the Bootle Community Plan, which was launched last month.

The aim is to sustain the village’s falling economy by building houses and restoring tourist attractions, such as the beach.

Story in the North West Evening Mail

ULVERSTON has been left out in the cold by planners who are trying to find ways of protecting the coastline in the north-west of England, according to its mayor.

Norman Bishop-Rowe was left fuming at the fact that the town was not included in a round of consultation meetings about the proposed Shoreline Management Plan, which he claims will have a major effect on Ulverston.

The plan has been put together by the North West and North Wales Coastal Group, a partnership made up of local authorities including South Lakeland District Council, Environment Agency and Natural England, and looks at how the coastline should be managed over the next 100 years.

Mr Bishop-Rowe said: “The whole of south Ulverston could be underwater in the next 75 to 100 years, as well as parts of Bardsea and Greenodd. Consultation meetings were held in Barrow, in Heysham and in Kendal – on the same day as our council meeting, so members were unable to attend – but none were held in our town.

“If the industrial area is flooded, we would be going back to how life was in the 1600s. After the flooding last year, residents of south Ulverston say they will not be able to sell their houses and leave, so they are stuck with this if it happens again.”

But Tom McCormick, environment protection officer at SLDC, denied that Ulverston would be underwater, and said he was meeting with council members on Monday (February 8th) to discuss the plan.

He said: “If we leave the coast to nature, the erosion rates are so slow that we do not think it would flood Ulverston in 100 years. The flood management at Canal Foot does need maintenance, and as a result of this study, we will be able to apply to Defra for funding for this work.”

Regarding the lack of a meeting in Ulverston, he added: “We can’t do an indefinite nuymber of meetings and it is difficult to consult with everyone in this way. I had already arranged with the clerk to the parish council to hold a meeting on Monday when I was arranged the Kendal meeting.”

For more information on the plan, visit www.mycoastline.org. You can give feedback by emailing smp2@mycoastline.org or writing to North West England and North Wales Coastal Group, c/o Mrs F Crayston, Blackpool Borough Council, Westgate House, Squires Lane, Blackpool FY4 2TS.

The closing date for responses is Sunday, February 14.

Story by Daniel Orr in the Westmorland Gazette

COMMUNITIES across Morecambe Bay are reacting to a coastal plan which outlines how the changing shoreline should be managed in future.Rising tides could threaten homes, farmland, natural habitats and a local nature reserve and South Lakeland District Council has been working on a plan of action to protect vulnerable areas.

The draft Shoreline Management Plan outlines proposals for action along the North West coast over the next 100 years as the risk of flooding and erosion increases.

The council is working in partnership with the North West England and North Wales Coastal Group and the Environment Agency to develop an action plan with three alternative approaches for each area – hold the line, managed realignment or no active intervention.

In Silverdale, the parish council has opposed plans not to maintain the current defences.

Parish council chair Terry Bond said RSPB Leighton Moss, which is home to several protected species, would be at risk of flooding if sea levels rise as predicted.

He said flood barriers must be maintained at the nature reserve until birds can be moved to an alternative location. He is also concerned that Silverdale, Warton and Millhead could be cut off from Carnforth by flooding from the River Keer.

“Apparently it is not economically justifiable to maintain the defences here, but it could affect the holiday park owners and Leighton Moss would disappear eventually,” he said.

In Ulverston, mayor Norman Bishop-Rowe said he was concerned about flood defences at the Glaxo-SmithKline site.

“Should the Glaxo site become exposed it puts the canal, homes and other developments in South Ulverston at serious risk of contamination,” he said.

At Arnside, proposals for no active intervention could affect low lying farmland.

Parish Council chair, Dave Willacy said this would affect natural habitats and tourism as Arnside is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“I would like consideration to be given to some kind of defences at New Barns as not maintaining defences there would put the caravan site at risk,” he said.

“Farmland in that area was reclaimed just over 150 years ago so it seems pointless to let it go back to nature again.”

SLDC will host a public consultation event at Kendal Town Hall, on tonight, from 6pm to 8.30pm.

The draft plans can be viewed at: www.mycoastline.org.

Residents interested in finding out about the proposals can get a copy of the plan and information about the South Lakeland coast from the council offices, the Libraries in Arnside, Broughton-in-Furness, Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Milnthorpe and Ulverston, the council’s website southlakeland.gov.uk or by attending the event.

Story by Bethany Abbit in the West Moreland Gazette

COUNCILLORS have criticised the plan that will determine how the shoreline will be managed in the long-term future, claiming it does not propose enough action against coastal flooding.

Doubts were expressed over the suitability of the Shoreline Management Plan when the draft copy was put to South Lakeland District Council’s overview and scrutiny committee when it met this week in Kendal.

The plan identifies the policies for managing coastal risks in the north west for up to 100 years from now.

But councillors on the committee told Tuesday’s meeting they were unhappy with the content of the plan, which is out to public consultation.

Councillor Mark Wilson, who represents Ulverston East on SLDC, does not think enough action has been proposed on the shoreline at the outer Leven Estuary – where the sea meets Ulverston – in light of the November floods.

A policy of ‘no active intervention’ has been proposed for the shoreline between Leven Viaduct and Canal Foot cottages, and at the Glaxo factory site.

At Canal Foot, the proposed policy is to ‘hold the line’. This has been defined as: “Manage flood and erosion risk by maintaining existing defences.”

Cllr Wilson told the meeting: “If we don’t take the right action at some point, some people will be under water. Some already have been under water.

“I have concerns the provisions being made in the forward plan are not strong enough to give residents the promises they require.”

Councillor Ian Stewart, who represents Arnside and Beetham on SLDC, claimed the draft made no sense in parts that referred to Grange and Arnside.

He added: “The fact it’s been conducted from Ormshead to the Scottish border is indicative of the way that local influence is going, going, gone.”

Councillor Mary Wilson, who represents Cartmel and Grange West on SLDC, told the meeting she was worried landowners and farmers with important local knowledge of the estuaries could be ignored in the consultation.

Phil Greenup, SLDC environmental health team leader, told the meeting: “The consultation hasn’t gone fantastically well.

“The Environment Agency embargoed the start of the consultation until November, which coincided with the flooding, and so it’s been extended to February 14.” The plan has been developed on behalf of the North West England and North Wales Coastal Group.

SLDC is one of 28 organisations involved and is responsible for the plan within the district.

SLDC will host a consultation event on Monday between 6pm and 8.30pm at Kendal Town Hall.

Mr Greenup told the Mail: “It is very detailed and I would recommend it is best for people to attend the public exhibition.

“We would love for members of the public to come and speak to the consultants, ourselves and give us their comments.”

The plan is also available at www.mycoastline.org

Story in the North West Evening Mail