Shifting Shores in theSouth West

Helen Mann

Property Manager - West Dorset

Shifting Shores in the South West

Planning for change at the coast

Lessons already learnt

Shifting Shores 2005

• Long term planning is essential

• Work with nature, not against it

• Think and act in a wider context

• Solutions need partnership

• Involving the public is critical

We’ve woken up to coastal change and its impact on our properties

• Shoreline Management Plan guidance (SMP2)

• PPS20

• Draft Marine Bill

• Proposed Flood and Water Bill

NT sites at risk……

• Westbury Court Garden

• Cotehele

• South Milton Sands

• Black Ven

• Golden Cap

• Studland

• Brownsea

• Bossington

• Lundy Access Road

• Godrevy

• Penberth

• St Michaels Mount

• Mullion Harbour

NT sites at risk……

Cotehele QuayWoolacombe

Studland

Cotehele Quay

Godrevy

What we can do:

• Work with others to undertake research

• Engage local communities

• Assess where defence might be appropriate

• Replace habitat loss

• Record features before they are lost

• Plan for relocation or adaptation

What we can’t do:

• Ignore natural processes

• Ignore what’s happening beyond our boundaries

• Achieve our objectives on our own

So what’s happening at some of the NT coastal sites ?

• Brownsea Island - internationally important lagoon• Woolacombe -5m (over 3km) of fore

dunes swept away in one night• Porlock Bay – breaching of shingle bar

= new area of salt marsh• Man sands – shingle bar now allowed to

function more naturally

Nature Conservation

Brownsea Island

Porlock Bay

Man Sands

Cultural heritage

Westbury Court garden

North Cornwall

Stakeholder

Bossington

Mullion Harbour

High profile

Studland

Lyme Regis

Botallack

Key questions to address…..

• How can people’s awareness and understanding of the risks they face be raised?

• What is the best way to decide

the most sustainable approach

to managing these risks?

• How should tomorrow’s coastline be planned today?

• How can the costs of adaptation be minimised and shared equitably?

The big 4…….our impact assessment• Impact on wildlife

• Impact on historic environment

• Impact on coastal economy

• Impact on public access

Why do we care?

• 716 kilometres of Coastline

• 24,989 ha of land

• 92 coastal car parks

• 20 cafes and shops

• Public access and recreation

• Local communities – friends and supporters

Our pledge for our future coast….

• Long Term View

• Conserve where possible

• Raise awareness and support vulnerable communities

• Work in partnership