NEW national seashore defence policies could mean major changes for two Torbay beaches.

Before Torbay Council adopts the latest version of the shoreline management plan to meet climate change predictions, it is to consult about the future of Goodrington Sands North and Broadsands.

The latest version of the government’s plan proposes not fighting the sea but allowing a ‘managed retreat’ inland to create new beaches. (more…)

LEISURE beaches around Torbay are at risk of disappearing under rising sea water levels.

Torbay Council and its development arm, the Torbay Development Agency, are drawing plans to see what impact climate change could have on the Bay’s environment and tourism-based economy.

Steve Parrock, chief executive of the TDA, said at a meeting of the Torquay Chamber of Commence that general flooding and rising sea levels were a reality developers in Torbay had to take into account looking ahead over the next 25, 50 and 100 years. (more…)

THE future of North Devon’s shoreline has come under the spotlight at a special meeting this week.

Devon County Council has welcomed a consultation draft review detailing how the coastline and coastal risks should be managed from Hartland Point to Anchor Head, near Weston-super-Mare, during the next 20, 50 and 100 years.

Cabinet members agreed with the North Devon and Somerset Shoreline Management Plan’s proposals to “hold the line” on developed sections of the coast to prevent flooding and erosion of the coastline at Devon’s coastal towns and resorts. They also supported a policy of “no active intervention” to the majority of the North Devon coast.

But the council objected to proposals for the “managed realignment” of sections from Instow and Yelland to Crow Point and Crow Neck. Councillors also asked for reassurance that investment in the Tarka Trail, National Cycle Network and the South West Coast Path will be taken into consideration and protected in the short to medium term. (more…)

DORSET’S Jurassic Coast is set to benefit from a £376,500 cash injection to help combat erosion and rising sea levels posed by climate change.

Dorset County Council environment chiefs teamed up with their East Devon counterparts to bid for a share of millions of pounds of Government cash.

The cash will be used on projects to benefit Preston Beach in Weymouth, Ringstead, Charmouth, Seatown and Swanage. (more…)

SIDMOUTH could cash in on a share of £376,500 awarded to Dorset County Council to fight rising sea levels and coastal erosion caused by climate change.

On Wednesday the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) awarded £11 million in grants to local authorities through its Coastal Change Pathfinder competition.

Dorset CC, in partnership with Devon County Council, successfully bid under the banner of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

“This is brilliant news for Sidmouth, being the only coastal location identified in Devon, and I believe it may well be possible to draw down the funding to help us come up with a scheme that will be acceptable to everyone that will protect Sidmouth from coastal flooding,” said Councillor Stuart Hughes. (more…)

GEOFFREY Cox, MP for Torridge & West Devon, attended a meeting with the Northam Burrows 1716 Committee and local Councillor Andrew Eastman, to discuss the erosion of the sea defences at Westward Ho! and Northam Burrows.

The 1716 Committee, which is predominately made up of graziers and commoners, expressed substantial anxiety that the work to recharge the pebble ridge to protect the Burrows from erosion had not gone forward.

Geoffrey Cox said:: “Those at the meeting gave me a lively account of their concerns for the Burrows and it was very useful to learn of the perspective of the 1716 Committee. The Burrows are a precious resource for our local community and it is essential that all parties work together to preserve and improve them. I will do all that I can to promote their welfare.” (more…)

PEOPLE living between Hartland Point in Devon and Anchor Head, near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, are being asked for their views on how this stretch of coastline and its estuaries should be managed.

A series of events is being held to present the draft North Devon and Somerset Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), which considers flood and erosion risk management. (more…)

A DISTRICT council says it is “disappointed” to have been left off an eight-page list of consultees to Defra’s Coastal Change Policy discussions.

The cross-government project is developing approaches to support communities facing the risk of coastal erosion and flooding in cases where properties, businesses and infrastructure are significantly impacted.

Although everyone from Action Mersey Estuary to Yorkshire Water has been consulted, East Devon District Council was left off the list. (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…)

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…)