Coastal Defence Strategies for Cuckmere Haven to Cliff End, East Sussex
Management of England’s coastal defences is undertaken by a range of private owners and operating authorities. The latter includes maritime District Councils and the Environment Agency.
In general terms, the District Councils manage frontages termed as ‘coast protection’ where failure of the defences would result in erosion of land above highest tide levels. The Environment Agency manages those frontages termed as ‘flood defence’ where failure of the defences would result in flooding of low-lying land behind.
As a consequence of this split in responsibilities, the 45 km of coastline between Beachy Head and Rye in East Sussex is managed in nine sections split between Eastbourne BC, Rother DC (2 sections), Hastings BC, the Environment Agency (4 sections) and Sovereign Harbour Ltd.
Shingle beaches form the primary sea defence along most of this coastline. The division in management responsibilities pays no heed to the mobility of these defences and natural processes. As a result, defence requirements in the past have often not been considered within a strategic framework, which takes full account of coastal processes, adjoining frontages and the wider effects of decisions taken.
In 1999 in order to further a more strategic approach, the Agency and the Local Authorities above set up a joint project team to undertake a coastal processes and resources study of the Beachy Head to Rye Harbour frontage. Completion of this study allowed the frontage to be divided into the following three strategic lengths for discrete studies to be undertaken.
Cuckmere Haven to Redoubt Gardens (Eastbourne)
Redoubt Gardens (Eastbourne) to Cooden
Cooden to Cliff End
The aim of these strategic studies is to develop a sustainable policy for the
future management of each length. The principal objectives of the strategies
to meet this aim are to:
Manage the frontage in sympathy with natural processes.
Ensure a co-operative and consistent management and monitoring approach by all
the operating authorities.
Provide appropriate defences, where the need has been identified and justified,
that are technically sound, economically viable and environmentally acceptable.
Provide best value to the public purse through, where appropriate, the use of
combined procurement initiatives.
Maximise recreational and environmental opportunities.
The Project Appraisal Report for each strategy (excluding appendices) is also
available on the enviroment agency web site
Cuckmere
Haven to Redoubt Gardens
Redoubt
Gardens to Cooden
Cooden
to Cliff End
Drafts of the reports for these strategic studies are now available for inspection and comment between the hours of 9.30am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday at any of the following offices:
The Environment Agency Offices, Coast Road, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex. Tel: 01323 762691. Contact Samina Khan or Richard Williams on 01903 832204
Eastbourne Borough Council Offices , 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4UH. Tel: 01323 410000. Contact Peter Padget.
Hasting Borough Council Information Office, Town Hall, Queen’s Road, Hastings Tel: 01424 783316. Contact Les Hawes.
Rother District Council Offices, 14, Beeching Road, Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 3LG Tel: 01424 787500. Contact Tony Stevens.
Wealden District Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX Tel: 01323 443101. Contact Graham Kean on 01892 653311
If you wish to discuss or comment on any of the strategies please contact or
write to the appropriate person above before 27 February 2004. If in doubt please
contact Samina Khan or Richard Williams on 01903 832204 who will provide details
of the appropriate person.