A holiday park in Selsey has put forward plans to make changes to its sea defence works.

Bunn Leisure is privately funding a £15m scheme at West Sands Caravan Park to protect its business and the west side of Selsey.

The original plans were granted planning permission in 2009 but Bunn wants to change the type of rock, profiling and footprint of the breakwaters, as well as change the source of shingle for a beach recharge.

It also will make minor changes to construction and programme for the planned works.

It has done this to match the works that will be carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) for the nearby Medmerry realignment scheme.

Mike Caven, operations director at Bunn Leisure, said: “We are working very closely with the EA and tweaking our plans to make sure both our schemes go together. It is joined-up thinking.”

It is believed Bunn’s scheme is the first privately-funded sea defence scheme in the UK.

Mr Caven added: “We’ve been working with the EA for the last two years to protect the business and protect the jobs.”

Construction of the sea defences at West Sands has been delayed to ensure it is parallel with the permitted Medmerry realignment scheme.

This scheme involves moving the sea coast boundaries further inland to create a unique marsh land space for habitats while at the same time protecting homes from being flooded in the future. It forms part of the EA’s Pagham to East Head coastal defence strategy.

Selsey councillor and sea defence campaigner Roland O’Brien said: “Thank goodness Bunn Leisure can and will invest in this new coastal defence.

“Apart from protecting the caravan park, the works also protect a large section of the western part of the town from coastal flooding.

“And from what I’ve seen of the plans, the new defence will enhance Selsey’s coastline, for visitors and residents alike.”

To view the plans quote the planning application reference number SY/09/01894/FUL

Story in the Chichester Observer

A large-scale £16m defence scheme designed to protect Selsey from the ravages of the sea was given the go-ahead by Chichester district councillors in a unanimous vote.

The ambitious Environment Agency (EA) project – the Medmerry managed realignment scheme – will also help create wildlife habitats being lost elsewhere in the Solent, the southern area development control committee was told.

The project aims to protect 348 properties from flooding over the next 100 years.

Cllr John Connor, district portfolio holder for the environment, said the scheme was a means to an end – the end being the defence of Selsey town and the villages and hamlets of the Manhood Peninsula’s southern hinterland against coastal erosion and flooding.

“These are urgently-needed defences–- the present defences are not sustainable in financial and coastal defence terms,” he declared.

“The present defences will fail, and the question is how soon. It could be at any time.”

The committee heard a shingle bank in the area needed significant maintenance and offered only a low standard of protection. The project affects land east of the Sussex Beach holiday village, Earnley, west of Bunn Leisure, Selsey, and south of Easton Lane, Sidlesham.

It will involve the construction of 6.7km of inland flood embankments, eight new drainage outfall structures, a diversion channel, access tracks, including a new coastal path, the removal of an existing outfall, and creation of inter-tidal habitat.

EA area flood and coastal risk manager John O’Flynn said: “I am delighted planning permission has been granted for the project.

“Consultation with local communities has been key throughout and it is thanks to their input and determination we now have the outline designs for the project approved.

“This scheme makes a significant contribution to the long-term economic wellbeing of Selsey, as well as providing long-term protection against flooding.”

Construction work is planned to start in autumn 2011, subject to government approval and funding.

The scheme will give better protection to the B2145 road, the area’s wastewater treatment works and electricity substations.

Future benefits of the project include public access improvements and the creation of new wildlife habitats.

Rock for the armoured ends of the embankment would be brought in by sea, and while much of the fill would be derived from the site, there was a need to bring in surfacing material and concrete by road.

As a result, there would be a ‘considerable number’ of lorry movements – around 2,300 lorry loads over two years.

A planning condition was proposed to limit the adverse impact on residents and the environment generally, in terms of control of working hours, noise and dust control.

It was anticipated West Sussex County Council would control the route of construction traffic.

Selsey representative Cllr Fred Robertson said: “This is the only game in town. This is how Selsey and Earnley are going to get their sea defences.”

Further information on the Medmerry managed realignment scheme is available on the EA’s website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/medmerry

Story in the Chichester Observer

Low-lying coastal areas could get no investment in their sea defences as the government draws up a 100-year plan to ‘prioritise’ flood protection.

The Environment Agency is set to release a blueprint next month for how a 240 mile stretch of coastline along the Solent will be protected over the next century.

The proposals, from Hurst Spit in the west to Selsey Bill in the east, will detail how much funding is likely to be given to different sections of coastline.

But, while some areas could get greater flood protection, some areas may have to do without any upgrade of existing defences.

The Agency has admitted that due to limited funding it may not be possible to continue to defend certain land or property from flooding or erosion.

Each stretch of coastline will be given one of four designations.

The vast majority of areas are likely to fall into the ‘hold the line’ designation, meaning that the existing level of protection will be maintained or upgraded.

A small number could be ‘advance the line’, meaning that new defences are built seaward.

Some will come under ‘managed realignment’, meaning that the shoreline will be allowed to retreat under the control of flood experts from the Agency.

The final category for some areas could be ‘no active intervention’, meaning the government will not provide any more cash for flood protection.

Details of the designations will be released when a public consultation of the plans, called the North Solent Shoreline Management Plan, begins on February 1.

Civic leaders urged people living near the coast to get involved in the consultation.

Councillor Jenny Wride, in charge of coastal management at Havant Borough Council, said: ‘I would encourage landowners and residents who live near to the coastline to come along to the exhibition to find out more about the plan.’

Cllr David Swanbrow, in charge of planning at Fareham Borough Council, added: ‘It is vitally important that we are planning for the future, not just in the short-term but for the next 100 years.’

The consultation will run for three months. The proposals and feedback forms will be available to view at northsolentsmp.co.uk

Story by Jeff Travis in the Portsmouth News

The groynes at East Beach, Selsey, are being repaired after Chichester District Council successfully bid for funding from the Environment Agency.

The work, which will be completed before the end of March, will involve the repair and refurbishment of the 52 timber and steel groynes that control the movement of shingle along the frontage.

The scheme will also involve a number of other improvements, including minor works to the sea wall.

Councillor Pieter Montyn, in charge of environment at Chichester District Council, said: ‘Coming so soon after the conclusion of the exhaustive public consultation, this is great news.

‘The council reacted extremely quickly when it discovered that it could bid for funding.

‘We issued detailed reports to the Environment Agency outlining our case, including a project appraisal report and a design for the scheme.

‘This means that we can put our plans into action straight- away, extending the life of the groyne field which we hope will last for the next 10 years.’

The plans are part of the Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy, which has recently been adopted by the council.

The strategy looks at the requirements for managing the coast over the next hundred years.

Story in the Portsmouth Today website

Plans to recycle 15,000 tons of sand and shingle at East Head have been submitted to Chichester District Council (CDC).

The works form part of the Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy which were drawn up by the Environment Agency.

The strategy aims to protect East Head and West Wittering, among other coastlines in the peninsula, from being eroded and flooded in the future.

Recycled material from the north of East Head would be transported to the south to create a bigger barrier and strengthen the coastline. It is hoped that if the plans are approved, the work would begin in March.

John Davis, Chichester Harbour Conservancy master, said: “We are delighted a sensible coastal strategy has been agreed. Now we have to put it into practice.

“It’s part of a sweep of measures which provides immediate strength to the most vulnerable part of East Head and at the Hinge.

“In a big storm it could all go in one night. It is a regional and national asset.”

An adaptive management approach for East Head and West Wittering was chosen by the East Head Coastal Issues Advisory Group which is outlined in the Coastal Defence Strategy.

The group was formed to draw up coastline protection plans for the coastline in East Head and West Wittering.

The adaptive management approach chosen will mean close monitoring of sea levels and adjusting methods on how to protect the land against the sea over a period of time.

West Wittering Parish Council chairman Bob Hutton said: “The land gets taken away by the tide and sand gets brought back.

“More sand will return to the land when the tide comes in. A similar exercise was carried out exactly two years ago and proved successful. There’s quite a lot of work to be done.”

Membership of the East Head Coastal Issues Advisory Group is made up of the Environment Agency, Chichester District Council, Natural England, Chichester Harbour Conservancy, West Wittering Parish Council, the Woodger Trust, West Wittering Estate, Cakeham Manor Estate and the National Trust.

The Harbour Conservancy will act as the contractor to undertake the works on behalf of the group.

Some of the partnership members will fund the works.

To find out more about the plans log on to the planning section of the district council’s website www.chichester.gov.uk and quote the reference number WW/08/05043/REG3. Alternatively, contact the local authority’s planning department on 01243 534734.

Story in the West Sussex County Times

THE FINAL sea defence plans for coastlines in the area have been rubber-stamped by Chichester District Council.

During a full council meeting at the Selsey Centre, Manor Road, the final recommendations for the Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy were discussed.

The majority of councillors voted to adopt the sea defences policies as the coast protection authority for the area and support the plans, which are drawn up by the Environment Agency.

However, Selsey councillor Roland O’Brien, of the Save our Selsey sea defence campaign group, thinks finding the money to pay for the sea defences would be a ‘huge challenge’.

“It has been suggested local funding should be explored. Between £31m and £41m would need to be raised to pay for the works at Selsey,” he said after the meeting.

“We have been having discussions with local stockholders about where we are going to find the money.”

At the full council meeting, Pieter Montyn of the environment department at the district council outlined the local authority has two parts to play in relation to sea defences.

It is the coast protection authority for the area and it is also a consultee, and can choose whether to support or reject the EA’s plans.

The Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy was updated in the summer after a two-month public consultation.

In the updated version more houses in West Wittering are to be protected.

During the full council meeting, Cllr Montyn also assured Cllr O’Brien the protection of the Medmerry Cliffs will be considered.

Over the next century the EA has chosen to strengthen the sea defences in Selsey, East Wittering, Bracklesham, Cakeham and ‘hold the line’ as sea levels rise.

Flood barriers are to be moved further inland at Medmerry to protect the area. Local flood defences are set to be built to protect the homes at West Wittering.

An adaptive management approach has been taken for Pagham and East Head, meaning sea defences will be monitored over a period of time
and changed according to the rise in sea levels.

What happens next?

The Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy is to go before the National Review Group within the Environment Agency this week, which looks at the economic and environmental aspects of the plans.

Questions from the meeting and points raised by the group will be put to the Environment Agency.

If everything has been agreed, the next step is for the plans to go before an agency board for the plans to get officially rubber-stamped. The EA is expecting the plans to be formally completed by the end of next year.

Andrew Gilham, south east coast area manager at the EA, said: “While this process is going on, we will be working on the ground to protect coasts from erosion and flooding.

“We will need to engage with the community next year to begin the realignment work at Medmerry. The works could start by 2010.”

Story in the Chichester Observer

FINAL plans for the Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy have been drawn up.

The flood barriers at Medmerry will be moved further inland which will protect the western side of Selsey, Earnley and secure the B2145 road sewage works.

Sea defences at Selsey, East Wittering, Bracklesham and Cakeham will be strengthened as the sea levels rise.

The option for West Wittering, East Head and Pagham is adaptive management. This means the coastlines will be monitored over a period of time before any further defences are put in place.

The Environment Agency (EA) plans to start working on the sea defences in West Wittering and Medmerry next year.

“Following extensive consultation with residents and Chichester and Arun District Councils we now have developed a strategy for managing flood and erosion risks that offers the maximum benefit for both people and their environment,” said James Humphrys, EA area manager for the south east.

“We have been very encouraged by the level of community interest throughout. Unless action is taken, within 100 years we predict that more than 2,200 houses and businesses in the low lying areas could flood here each year as sea levels rise.

“At the same time, erosion could cause almost 1,500 properties to be lost to the sea.”

A newsletter summarising the public responses and strategy recommendations has now been produced and sent to 14,000 households within the Manhood Peninsula.

Consultation on the draft strategy was held between May 29 and August 29, and more than 1,000 residents attended exhibitions held across the manhood peninsula.

Chichester District Council will discuss the final plans on Wednesday at a full council meeting.

Story in the Chichester Observer

Sea defence campaigners have branded Natural England’s (NE) policies ‘crazy’ as the final touches are being made to the Pagham to East Head draft coastal defence strategy.

The Environment Agency (EA) is just weeks away from releasing the final plans for the draft strategy.

But Save Our Selsey (SOS) campaigners fear the EA is being ‘restrained’ by NE.

SOS also believes the proposals to protect the town are still an ‘expensive wish list’, despite new plans to protect the north of the town being put forward.

“We’re disappointed a strong, clear case to protect Medmerry Cliffs has not been made,” said SOS chairman Richard Dearsley.

“The NE policy is to let such cliffs erode, to ensure fresh ‘exposure’ of the geology – even if this means homes and businesses are lost as a result, and that ultimately the cliffs disappear.

“We think this is crazy and the EA should be free to suggest a policy that defends property and preserves the cliffs.

“We hope the EA is given the opportunity in the final stages of the strategy to do this.”

The EA predicted that 2,200 homes and businesses would be lost to the sea if nothing was done to protect homes along the coastline over the next century.

More than 1,000 residents attended four exhibitions as part of a two-month public consultation starting from May 29. Residents could view coastal defence plans and speak with EA staff.

Those who responded to the plans have received a newsletter at their home outlining changes made to the draft coastal defence strategy. SOS believes creativity will be needed to find ways of funding essential coast defences.

Mr Dearsley added: “Unless we can get the money to pay for coast defences, nothing will be done.

“The agency says that government funding for Selsey’s urban frontages, such as the existing sea wall, is unlikely and it could be down to ‘local community funding’.

“To defend urban Selsey over the next 100 years with the strategy estimated we would need a fund of £30m-£40m set aside. Coast defence is a government responsibility and local people should not be left to pick up the tab.”

Jon Curson, NE coastal policy advisor for the south east region, said: “We are responsible for looking after designated sites and Medmerry Cliffs is one of them. We have worked very closely with the EA in producing this strategy and we were satisfied with the strategy in its draft form.

“It provides adequate protection for Selsey. I would not agree we have hampered the EA in its decisions.”

Chichester District Council is to meet on November 25 to review the plans.

Story in the Chichester Observer

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.

In a letter to the Environment Agency, Cllr Deborah Urquhart, county cabinet member for the environment and economy, said the need to realign defences at Medmerry, Selsey, to a more stable position inland was becoming better understood by the community. Such a policy would result in a major new landscape feature in the form of a new harbour similar in nature to Pagham.

“But despite the engagement and visioning work done by the community over the years, including the Going Dutch conferences, it would appear the indicative alignments of the new defences are based around ensuring the cheapest and shortest new structures to achieve the highest cost-benefit ratio,” said Cllr Urquhart.

A new harbour had the potential to have a very positive impact on the area for generations to come.

But for the residents and businesses of the area to adopt the dramatic changes to their landscape and community that now seemed necessary, it was essential they were involved in shaping a vision for how their area would look and could be used, and how such a feature would be integrated into their landscape and fit alongside their existing facilities and infrastructure.

“Although the panel of experts agreed with the need to realign the defence inland at Medmerry, many of the workshops expressed concern about the engineered structures being imposed on the landscape, and not working with the contours and existing features,” she added.

Alongside other members of the community and geo-morphologists and engineers, the county council would be keen to offer its landscape and heritage expertise to ensure the design of the new feature took full account of the character of the Manhood Peninsula.

The county would also expect to be engaged to identify and design the most appropriate locations for new and relocated rights of way, to maximise the benefits to the community of new routes and, where feasible, ensuring access for all.

Story in the Chichester Observer

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.

James Humphrys, Environment Agency area manager for West Sussex and Hampshire, said: “This is a very important issue for anyone living or working in this area and we are pleased to have received so many positive views on our proposals.

“We have been able to meet local people face to face, learn about their interests and concerns, and talk to them about our recommendations in more detail.

“We believe that the draft strategy proposals can manage the flood and erosion risks, but central government funding is limited and there is strong competition from around the country.”

The public consultation period took place between May 29 and August 29.

A complete consultation report will be written this month, and the strategy will be finalised on in October or November.

The EA will then seek approval from authorities for the work to be carried out in winter this year or spring next year.

More than 200 residents commented on the proposals.

Exhibitions were held in Selsey, West Wittering and Pagham for residents to view plans.

The EA predicts within 100 years, up to 2,200 houses and businesses in the low lying areas could flood each year as the sea levels rise.

And erosion could cause almost 1,500 properties to be lost to the sea.

Story in the Shoreham Herald