Opportunity to find out more about the future of our coastline
Release date: 6 January 2010
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People living on the coast between Hurst Spit in the New Forest and Selsey Bill in West Sussex, are going to be consulted on the draft North Solent Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) when it is released for public comment on 1 February 2010.
The SMP outlines proposals to manage the coastal flooding and erosion risks to the North Solent shoreline for the next 20, 50 and 100 years. Residents in the New Forest are invited to come along to their local exhibition at Lymington Town Hall on Monday 1 February to learn more about the coastal change affecting them. The exhibition is open from 2pm -7pm.
Extending from Hurst Spit in the west to Selsey Bill in the east, the SMP breaks down the coastline into different sections and recommends one of four policies for each area:
- Hold the line – maintain or upgrade the level of protection provided by existing defences
- Advance the line – build new defences seaward of existing defences
- Managed Realignment – allow retreat of the shoreline with management to control or limit movement
- No active intervention – not to invest in providing or maintaining defences
Councillor Edward Heron, New Forest District Council's portfolio holder for environment, said: "It is vitally important that we are planning for the future, not just in the short term but for the next 100 years.
"The plan provides a policy framework within which the council can work, and through which it can apply for government funding.
"I would encourage New Forest residents to come along to the exhibition and find out more about the plan."
Stephen Trotter, Director of Conservation, Recreation and Sustainable Development at the New Forest National Park Authority said: "The New Forest coastline is a beautiful and fascinating place; with quiet, tranquil marshes and shingle shorelines, it's a special place that's rich in wildlife and history as well as being somewhere for people to live, work and play. But it's also a coastline that will face the challenge of change in the next 100 years... and the consultation on this draft shoreline management plan is a great opportunity for local communities and anyone who's interested to have their say on how these changes should be managed for decades to come."
John O'Flynn, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager said: "This public consultation on the draft North Solent Shoreline Management Plan represents a major step forward in the management of the Solent coast. We have been closely involved in developing policies that recognise the natural changes occurring in the Solent and balance the needs of people and the environment. We now look forward to hearing views from the public before the policies are finalised."
The consultation will start on 1 February 2010 and run for three months.
The draft SMP, exhibition materials and feedback forms will be available to view at www.northsolentsmp.co.uk and at the local authority offices from 1 February.
Downloadable documents:
Draft North Solent Shoreline Management Plan - Proposed Policy Scenarios for Consultation
Draft North Solent Shoreline Management Plan - map