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Appendix 8.3 |
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Shoreline Management Plan (Bridgwater Bay to Bideford Bay)
Extracts from “Consultation Summary” leaflet, 1998 |
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Shoreline Management Plans |
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Today it is appreciated that processes operating on the coastline largely occur
within distinct lengths of coast (sediment cells). The Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), who are responsible for overseeing
and partially funding coast protection and flood defence for the Government, has
produced guidelines for the development of Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs)
within these sediment cells. SMPs promote co-operation between Local
Authorities, the Environment Agency and other organisations involved with the
defence of the coast from erosion or flooding.
SMPs are documents that lay the strategy for sustainable coastal defence. These
Plans provide details on a wide range of issues including coastal processes,
natural environment, planning issues, coastal defence needs and current and
future land-use. SMPs assist those responsible for coastal defence to formulate
planning strategies and control future development of the shoreline. Flood and
coastal defence authorities will consult the SMP in developing coastal defence
strategies. DEFRA has identified the following key steps in the development of a
SMP:
Stage 1- to identify all those with an interest in the area,
collate and analyse data on all key issues, set management objectives for
the Plan area.
Stage 2- to define management units; appraise strategic coastal
defence options, consult on the preferred strategic defence options; compile
the Plan
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Management Units and Implementation Lengths |
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The coastline of the Bridgwater Bay to Bideford Bay SMP is divided into twenty
Management Units. These are further sub-divided into Implementation Lengths
which are defined as ‘a length of shoreline requiring a specific coastal defence
option for the future to meet the overall strategic requirements of the
Management Unit’.
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The Coastal Defence Options |
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Coastal defence methods range from hard, structure types like large rocks and
seawalls to soft schemes like beach nourishment. A strategic option for each
Implementation Length is determined after considering its probable effect on the
adjacent shoreline and based on the objectives of the Plan. The defence strategy
for each Management Unit consists of the strategies for its component lengths.
These are determined from four general options:
Do nothing
carry out no coastal defence works except for safety measures.
Hold the line
maintain or upgrade the level of protection provided by the existing
defences, or build new defences along the existing frontage.
Advance the line
build new defences seawards of the existing position.
Managed retreat
adopt a more landward defence position.
Strategy selection requires sound understanding of current coastal processes to
ensure its appropriateness. However, in some areas processes are not fully
understood, so strategy adoption requires further knowledge. Thus a fifth option
has been developed:
Observe and Monitor
undertake a period of more detailed examination of the shoreline to provide
a sound baseline for selection of the preferred defence option in the future.
In conjunction with this the SMP contains a number of recommendations for future
research, studies and monitoring.
The preferred coastal defence strategy for each of the 20 Management Units is
presented in this leaflet. (Two of these are relevant to Sedgemoor District, as
set out below). |
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Hinkley Point to River Brue (PARR) |
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This south side of Bridgwater Bay, from Hinkley Point, includes the banks of the
River Parrett as far upstream as Combwich. Except for areas at
Hinkley Point, Stolford and Combwich, the whole of this unit lies within the
flood plain. Hinkley Point Power Station is a major contributor to the local
economy and also provides a tourist attraction. Agriculture continues to
dominate the coast east of Hinkley Point, with small settlements at Stolford and
Steart. On the west bank of the River Parrett is the small village of Combwich
which has harbour facilities. Land on the east bank of the River Parrett and
south of Burnham-on-Sea is also agricultural, helping to sustain the areas
second largest employer. On the east bank the villages of Pawlett, Stretcholt,
Huntspill and Alstone lie within flood plains. The entire intertidal area of
this unit is of international nature conservation importance, along with some
terrestrial habitats, mainly recognising its importance for migrant bird
populations. Most of the frontage is also part of a National Nature Reserve.
Six Implementation Lengths (*NB two of the six lengths are outside Sedgemoor
District) have been defined for this Unit. Hold the line strategies are
preferred for the majority of the frontage, primarily to prevent flooding of
property, land and habitats. These frontages will primarily be held by
maintenance of existing defence structures, although some long term improvement
may be necessary to maintain defence standards. Observe and Monitor is proposed
for the shoreline between Stolford and Fenning Island, and on the West bank of
the River Parrett to Combwich. This will allow for site specific consideration
of managed retreat on the undeveloped frontages, to promote saltmarsh growth for
nature conservation and defence purposes. Further study of the natural defence
system within this unit is advocated to assess evolutionary trends.
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Burnham-on-Sea to Brean Down (BURN) |
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The intertidal flats fronting the whole of this unit, between the River Brue and
Brean Down, are of international nature conservation importance. There is
uninterrupted development throughout the whole of the Management Unit, albeit a
mixture of residential, commercial, tourism and leisure interests.
Burnham-on-Sea is the largest development on this west facing stretch of
coastline. To the north and adjacent to Berrow Flats, are the tourist
developments at Berrow and Brean. Berrow is fronted by a large area of SSSI
designated dunes and a golf course. Limited dunes, of local conservation
importance, continue north in front of Brean. This development consists
predominantly tourist developments and is the second largest site in the country
for touring caravans. Brean Down to the north is an undeveloped headland of high
nature conservation and amenity value. Five Implementation Lengths have been
defined for this unit. The frontages of Burnham, the holiday camp to the south
and Brean have “hold the line” strategies, which will largely be achieved
through maintenance of the existing defences. However, at Burnham a study is
required to assess movement of the River Parrett channel and its implications
for long term foreshore and defence stability. The currently undefended dune
section in the north of Burnham should also be studied, to establish any need
for future intervention. At Brean, monitoring is also required to assess the
levels of fronting beach and dunes, which are integral to the present defence
system and steps taken were they to significantly lower. Observe and monitor is
promoted for Berrow Dunes to assess their natural evolution, the long term
protection offered to developments at Berrow and their possible role as a source
of material for the remainder of the unit. This will involve a comprehensive
study extending over the entire Management Unit, building upon previous studies
of past evolution to analyse shoreline movements at a much more detailed level.
For Brean Down the strategy is, do nothing. |
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