Coastal defences that currently protect huge swathes of farm land, natural habitat and housing are to be moved inland, allowing the sea to flood into low-lying areas.

In some parts of the country, householders and land owners have been told they face spending millions of pounds of their own money to build and repair flood defences to try to protect their property. (more…)

CAMPAIGNERS say they will fight on following the decision by the Environment Agency to allow Cuckmere Haven to revert to a tidal floodplain.

Wednesday’s announcement that it will be withdrawing flood protection for the river banks has sparked angry calls for a public inquiry.

The iconic landscape of the meanders will be lost to future generations but the agency says the decision will allow the estuary to adapt to the impacts of climate change and will bring major benefits to visitors and wildlife. (more…)

Current flood defences are not high enough to cope with sea level rises at the Cuckmere Estuary in East Sussex and each year the agency spends tens of thousands of pounds removing shingle from the mouth of the river.

Now it has decided to allow the sea to reclaim the popular landmark in a move that will see the valley return to the tidal floodplain it was back in the 1840s.

Campaigners said they are pressing for a more managed approach and that allowing the area to flood would harm wildlife, footpaths and parts of the local beach.

But the Environment Agency said that climate change, sea level rises and past interference by man have put the Cuckmere Estuary under increasing pressure.

Read the full story on the Telegraph website

A MP has renewed his call for a public inquiry into plans to turn Cuckmere Valley into a tidal floodplain.

The Environment Agency announced on Wednesday that it would allow the East Sussex valley to flood, turning it into a salt marsh nature reserve.

It said climate change meant its flood risk management had to change.

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson said he was writing to the government to demand a “proper public inquiry” and he wanted the consultation details published.

Read the full story on the BBC News website

The Cuckmere Valley in East Sussex is to be turned into a tidal floodplain, the Environment Agency has decided.

Residents had fought the plans to flood the valley, created by the Victorians in 1846, and turn it into a salt marsh nature reserve.

The Environment Agency’s Andrew Pearce said it knew there would be concern but flood risk management had to change. (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