Bolstering Pagham’s sea defences needs to be done urgently, a senior county councillor has said.

Cllr Deborah Urquhart said: “This is a high priority because decisions will need to be made quickly to ensure a satisfactory standard of defence is maintained at Pagham beach.”

It was important to understand the coastal processes that were putting 160 properties on Pagham beach and a further 350 nearby properties at risk of flooding.

Quick fixes which could make the long-term situation worse should be avoided. (more…)

The prospect of invasion has occupied the minds of those living on the southern fringes of England for centuries, although the threat from Napoleon has long since receded and a scattering of pillboxes on the hillside is the only hint of the cross-Channel menace once posed by Hitler.

The prospect of invasion has occupied the minds of those living on the southern fringes of England for centuries, although the threat from Napoleon has long since receded and a scattering of pillboxes on the hillside is the only hint of the cross-Channel menace once posed by Hitler.

But in the beautiful Cuckmere valley, Sussex, they are preparing to take on their most implacable foe. The scene is set for the biggest challenge: The People versus The Sea.

Full story by Paul Peachy in the Independent

Also, articles in this edition on Happisburgh, and learning lessons from Dunwich

Plans to protect the future of Chichester Harbour have been supported by the group responsible for maintaining it.

The Chichester Harbour Conservancy has agreed to support the Coastal Defence Strategy for the East Head frontage.

The strategy, commissioned by Chichester District Council, the Environment Agency and Arun District Council, aims to protect the harbour from the threat of flooding. (more…)

Controversial plans to flood Medmerry and shift its sea defences over the next century have been backed by district councillors – to save Selsey.

The community representatives threw their weight behind the proposals outlined in the Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy.

They agreed that without moving the defences further inland, they risked losing Selsey, described as a ‘£1bn asset’, to the sea. (more…)

Findings from a Manhood Going Dutch II workshop will be presented at a public community event on Tuesday.

The workshop, to be run by the Manhood Peninsula Partnership from Sunday to Tuesday, is designed to bring international experts and local people together to look at ways of dealing with local coastal defence issues.

It is scheduled to coincide with the consultation period for the draft coastal defence strategy prepared by the Environment Agency and Chichester and Arun District Councils.

Partnership chairman Cllr Peter Jones said the community was invited to make suggestions on how to manage the coastline, and numerous responses had been received.

“These suggestions, along with the options stated in the draft strategy, will be assessed by our Dutch and British delegates over three days,” he added.

“The experts’ findings will be presented at Earnley Concourse on June 24, and the Manhood community are invited to attend to hear what our delegates have concluded. It looks to be an interesting and important event.”

Spaces for the final presentation are limited and entrance to the event will be by ticket only.

Story in the Chichester Observer

Protecting Medmerry’s sea defences would be only ‘fighting against nature’.

That is the verdict of James Humphrys, Solent and South Downs area manager for the Environment Agency (EA), on the crumbling sea defences for the area in Selsey.

The EA announced its proposals to move the sea defence boundaries at Medmerry and carry out controlled flooding for the area over the next century.

The Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy was announced on May 29 and in it the EA proposed to sustain Selsey’s sea defences.

“We all feel a deep wish to provide total protection for everybody all the time,” said Mr Humphrys.

“The reality is we can’t do that. We have a limited amount of money.”

The coast is divided into different stretches because of the different states and populations of each area.

The EA said it was in talks with Bunn Leisure about how they could both work together to find a solution for protecting Medmerry and the holiday park.

Mr Humphrys said: “In some parts of the peninsula it is actually fighting against nature and that’s not something we can continue to do. With Medmerry there is a lot of low-lying land with a very low population density. We will make arrangements with landowners about our proposals.”

Story in the Chichester Observer

There are concerns that the Government’s Shoreline Management Plan could increase flooding in the Rye area. It has led to the forming of a new pressure group The Defend Our Coast Asssociation (DOC).

Brigitte Bass, from the Association, said: “This has been set up by local people as a direct result of their dissatisfaction from the lack of local involvement and consultation by various Government bodies during the preparation of Shoreline Management Plans for our area, from Dungeness to Cliff End at Pett Level. (more…)

The Environment Agency, in partnership with Chichester and Arun District Councils, has developed adraft coastal defence strategy for the West Sussex coastline between Pagham Harbour and West Wittering. Between 29 May 2008 and 29 August 2008 they are inviting comments on their recommendations for managing flood and erosion risk over the next 100 years.

The draft strategy recommends that the vast majority of properties should be protected to their current standard or better, while recognising that securing funding for building and maintaining defences is a serious and pressing issue for the area.

Save Our Selsey are concerned about the funding for the policy of ‘hold the line’ in the Selsey area, and are not convinced that ‘managed realignment’ is the best policy in the Medmerry area.

The consultation period is open for 12 weeks - it’s crucial that anyone with an interest in the future of the coastline in this area makes their feelings known.

For more information please visit:

• Environment Agency website
• Save Our Selsey website

A MANAGEMENT group could be introduced after the EA announced its proposal for an adaptive management plan for the sea defences in Pagham.

The EA proposed to start the group made up of the district councils, West Sussex County Council, Natural England, local landowners and parish councils to work with it over the next 100 years under the management plan.

The group would liaise with residents and help address funding issues. In the strategy the EA says costs of £35m would be needed over the next century to carry out the needed works under the management plan.

Read the full story on the Chichester Observer website

The Environment Agency has opted to flood Medmerry and move its sea defence boundaries over the next 100 years to prevent further risks of flooding.

The proposal was made in the East Head to Pagham draft coastal defence strategy released today by the EA.

Medmerry has been badly hit by storms in recent years, with some properties already crumbling under the sea’s grip.

The EA outlined in its draft strategy it would work with landowners to define new defence lines and locate where it could create a new space for a new tidal habitat.

James Humphrys, Solent and South Downs area manager for the EA, said it recognised the threat of flooding and erosion, but central government funding was limited.

“We cannot prevent all flooding and erosion. The storm back in March that washed away the shingle beach at Medmerry and flooded the caravan site was a stark reminder for us all,” he said (more…)