As reported in Construction News and numerous other sources:

Dungeness in Kent has been dropped from a Government list of potential locations for new nuclear power stations.

The location, which was one of eleven sites nominated by industry in March, was not listed in the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s draft National Policy Statements consultation, which opened today (9th November).

Concerns about how to mitigate potential environmental impacts at the site, coastal erosion and associated flood risk were among the reasons. (more…)

The consultation on ‘ Coastal Change Policy’ was launched by DEFRA in June 2009 . The document set out DEFRA’s ideas for how coastal communities can successfully adapt to the impacts of coastal change and Government’s role in supporting this . All official Consultees were invited to respond by 25 September 2009.

DOC has provided DEFRA with a detailed response on behalf of its members and has urged all relevant  Local Authorities to do the same.  At the end of the consultation period copies of all responses received by Defra will be made  publicly available through their Information Resource Centre in London.

Following the consultation, the Government will analyse the responses and draft a final version of the policy. Government’s  aim is to publish this revised policy in 2010.

Read the full response from Defend Our Coast on the DOC website

Will the Kent coast always look like it does now? Unlikely. By 2100 is estimated that sea level changes wrought by climate change will have altered the map and we could find ourselves with a county that looks very different to the one we know and love today

Whether an act of humility or egotistical mania, King Canute’s tidal antics in the 11th century confirmed that the sea does what it wants. We’ve come a long way since, developing more sophisticated ways of thwarting the sea other than a pair of kingly ankles.

Around the county, coastal communities enjoy protection via a network of flood defences. They ensure that, even when the sea is at its bolshiest, those at risk from flooding (10 per cent of Kent’s population), can sleep safe in the knowledge that they won’t end up sharing more in common with Atlantis than Ashford. (more…)

Coastal Concern Action Group, based in Happisburgh on the North Norfolk coast, held a meeting in their parish church on Friday attended by around 200 people, celebrating ten years of the founding of the group, and their achievements during that period.

After a welcome from Rev Philip Wood, Diana Wrightson, one of the members of the CCAG steering group, recapped the circumstances that led to a similar meeting held in St Mary’s Church ten years ago to discuss the issue of worsening coastal erosion of Happisburgh’s cliffs. Following that meeting CCAG was set up under the leadership of their Co-ordinator Malcolm Kerby.

Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem MP for North Norfolk then explained the political impact that CCAG had brought about through its policy of constructive dialogue rather than direct confrontation, and the scope of the influence that the group now received. He also summarised the current position that although there was currently no sign of change of a policy on defending the coast, there had been changes in attitude to the possibility of  ‘compensation’, and that the campaigning of CCAG had been a large factor in that change. (more…)

The Environment Agency will be talking about its plans for managing flood risk in the Rye area at a meeting at Winchelsea Beach Community Hall on Saturday.

Ian Nunn, from the Environment Agency, will be talking and answering questions at the meeting, which has been organised by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. (more…)

Rising sea levels will have a major impact on the South East’s coastline over the decades to come. It could result in the map of the region being completely redrawn. Even those miles from the sea could end up living under water. (more…)

The ‘Defend Our Coast Association‘ ( or DOC for short), set up by local people living on the Romney Marsh to campaign for local involvement and consultation in the preparation of Shoreline Management Plans for the Sussex / Kent coast have just launched a new website.

The published Shoreline Management Plan (Folkestone to Cliff End) contained various recommendations which caused great concerns to areas all along our stretch of coast and particularly its recommendations of ‘Managed Retreat” in some areas has put the Marsh at an increased risk of flooding and blighted properties on these specific frontages.

www.defendourcoast.org.uk

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…)