A new harbour could be created on the county’s coastline as part of a new coastal defence strategy.

It would be similar to wildlife-rich Pagham Harbour, a designated local nature reserve, just a few miles away, and the county maintains it would have a ‘positive impact’ for generations to come – according to West Sussex County Council.

But the authority’s comments, made in response to a new Pagham to East Head coastal strategy, come with a warning about concerns over national funding mechanisms for coastal defence, which could cause problems over such a project. (more…)

Deadline day has passed for residents to submit their views on the plans for coastal defence between Pagham and East Head.

More than 1,000 people attended exhibitions held by the Environment Agency (EA) for the Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy. (more…)

More than 1,200 people made their views known about plans to tackle flood and erosion in West Sussex.

About 1,000 residents visited four exhibitions on the draft Pagham to East Head coastal defence strategy between May and August. (more…)

Bulldozers have been brought in at Medmerry to bolster its sea defences in preparation for some of the highest tides of the year.

The shingle bank at the low-lying area of Medmerry will be strengthened by the Environment Agency (EA) to prevent damage from the sea this autumn. (more…)

DIRECTORS of a thriving beach resort have thrown their weight behind controversial sea defence proposals for East Head and West Wittering and are urging others to follow in their footsteps.

Managers at the West Wittering Estate have given the thumbs-up to the Environment Agency’s (EA) plans to protect the coastline by adaptive management.

They also want to see East Head and Snowhill Creek safeguarded. The EA’s recommendations are outlined in the Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy.

Read the full story in the West Sussex County Times

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…)

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