Coast under the spotlight

     



A Shepway councillor was among a group of delegates from across the country who took part in a fact-finding exercise to look at the way coastal defences are managed.

Cllr William Richardson, Shepway Council's Cabinet Member for Technical Services, joined colleagues from the Local Government Association's coastal special interest group on a field visit to North Norfolk. The group, made up of councilors and officers from maritime authorities around the country, looked at the way the North Norfolk coast is being eroded, the effects on local communities, tourism and regeneration and how different coastal defence and management systems are being used.

"It was an extremely useful two days and it was interesting to see how problems of coastal erosion are being tackled," said Cllr Richardson. "Although we are lucky in Shepway and do not face the same problems as great as those North Norfolk, we obviously have related issues at Lydd, where the Environment Agency is looking at ways to manage coastal flooding."

"The coastal special interest group also lobbies for government funding for coastal defence schemes. Again we have been fortunate in Shepway where the council managed to secure Defra funding for the Hythe to Folkestone Harbour Coastal Defence scheme which was completed in 2004. But this will not stop Shepway from working with the group to support other regions that need funding."

Shepway Council is one of 10 councils and organisations across the south that have helped develop a Shoreline Management Plan covering area from South Foreland in Thanet to Beachy Head in East Sussex.

The plan provides a large-scale assessment of the risks associated with coastal evolution and suggests general polices that address risks to people and the environment.