Consultations with the Environment Agency (15 July 2009)

Members of the CEP attended a consultation exercise with the Environment Agency in Feering on 15 July 2009 to discuss the new Shoreline Management Plan(SMP) for Essex (and Suffolk).

A Shoreline Management Plan involves a large scale assessment of the risks to the coastal environment and the effects of coastal processes. The SMP aims to manage risks with a range of methods, reduce the threat of flooding and benefit the environment.

The SMP is non-statutory, but designed to influence the Local Development Frameworks, and as it is a long term plan (c.100 years), needs to consider the effects of climate change as well as other potential factors. The SMP is based on 11 inclusive principles (see reports below).

To date, data has been collected on the current state of the sea defences in the region and an estimate has been made as to their longevity, based on the construction method, materials and age of the defences. Assessments have been made under two scenarios, (1) Do nothing from this point, and (2) Maintain defences in there current state.

The meeting at Feering used stakeholder knowledge to review the EA assessment of defences, their type, condition and any threats. Threats identified were sea-level rise, increased wave height, increased erosion and general increased pressure on existing defences.

There are 13 cells within the Colne estuary;

C4 - St Osyth beach

D1 - Colne Point

D2 - St Osyth

D3 - Thorrington/ Upper Brightlingsea Creek

D4 - Brightlingsea

D5 - Aldboro Point

D6- Alresford Creek

D7 - Hythe

D8a - Fingringhoe

D8b - The Geedons

E1 - Mersea and Pyefleet

E2 - East Mersea

Processes affecting the Colne estuary include wave action, tidal action, currents, sea level rise, erosion at the mouth of the estuary and accretion at the head of the estuary. Members of the CEP pointed out that the beach at St. Osyth was in fact eroding rather than accreting. The defences in Brightlingsea Creek were noted to be in poor condition and eroding, while the upper creek was accreting. The predicted life span of defences at Brightlingsea was shorter than expected by CEP members. East Mersea is still eroding, while local knowledge suggested the situation within Pyefleet channel was more complex with a mixture of erosion and accretion (around the Strood).

Two reports have been prepared to date, The Key Stakeholders report and the Themed Group meetings report.

The Themed groups cover;

1) Landowners, farming and agriculture

2) Planning and communities

3) Wildlife, habitats and landscape

4) Recreation, access and sailing

5) Business, assets and infrastructure

The next stage includes a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to be carried out by Natural England to guide the development of policy for the individual cells. This will study the consequences of policy decisions, help with the selection of preferred options, identify positive and negative effects of these options, as well as identifying social and economic effects of policy decisions. The SEA Environmental report should be available for consultation from mid-October 2009 to January 2010.

The main options to be considered include 'Hold the line' i.e. maintain current defences around business, assets and infrastructure, particularly in developed areas, and managed realignment which would also help to meet the UK's obligations under the Habitats Directive (i.e. maintain set levels of Saltmarsh and mudflat habitats).

The actual policy document is likely to be available for public consultations sometime between Autumn 2009 and Spring 2010, with the plan to be finalised and presented to local authorities in Spring 2010.

For more information about the SMP see the Environment Agency website.