People living near the coast of the Severn Estuary are
being asked for their views on how their coastline should be
managed over the next one hundred years as part of a major new
study.
The estuary area runs along the coast from Weston-super-Mare,
through into Gloucestershire and on into South Wales.
A large-scale review of the current Shoreline Management Plan
(SMP1), which dates back to 2000, is being carried out by the
Severn Estuary Coastal Group (SECG).
The SECG is a partnership of local authorities and other
organisations, such as the Environment Agency and independent
drainage boards, which manages coastal protection and flood defence
issues.
The far-reaching review it is undertaking is called SMP2, and
will enable planners and regulators to plan for and manage the way
that the coast will change over the next century.
This could be by maintaining or improving flood defences,
helping areas that are at risk of flooding, or ensuring future
developments are not put at higher risk of flood or coastal
erosion.
Once it is finished, local authorities and regulators with
responsibilities for managing the shoreline will be asked to adopt
it.
An event is being held at Walton Park Hotel, Clevedon on 8 June
from 2 to 6pm, so that the public can get involved with the
consultation process.
These will be open events and will look at the history of
Shoreline Management Plans, what work has already been done, asking
local people their thoughts on what should be done in the future
and setting out objectives for the next hundred years
A longer consultation will be held later in the Autumn
Dave Harris, Chair of the Severn Estuary Coastal Group said:"
There are thousands of residential and commercial properties in the
Severn Estuary at risk from flooding, erosion and climate change,
as well as farms, historically important areas and environmental
sites.
We need to plan now for changes in the future. It is
important that the decisions we all make today do not put
additional burdens on future generations. We need the SMP2 to
help everyone understand how the shoreline in the Estuary will
change and be managed over the next 100 years. People need to
be able to plan ahead and make decisions about their businesses,
land, homes and investments.’
The aim of all of these consultations is to develop policies
which will protect homes and businesses for generations to
come.
“We’d like to encourage anyone who lives or works around the
Estuary to get involved in this consultation process. Not just to
make sure we’re making informed, lasting decisions, but more
importantly, to help the coastal group come as close to consensus
as we can on crucial issues like protecting against coastal erosion
and flooding," said Ken Tatem, project manager from the Environment
Agency.
For more information on the Severn Estuary Shoreline Management
Plan please visit:
www.severnestuary.net/secg
