Thursday, March 16, 2006

Change Will Come


Politicians we're told have very short time horizons, principally the next election. At any rate the electoral unknown is always factored in to the timing of decisions. But for a change from the norm, Elliot Morley, the Environment Minister, is looking ahead 100 years from now. This week he published revised guidance on SMPs (Shoreline Management Plans).

The SMP is a recognition that our coastline is always changing, and the view of many that it should stay exactly as it is, and that conservation means keeping it exactly as it is, is unsustainable.

There's good reason to be planning for the future, for it is calculated that there are £130 billion of assets (homes, businesses etc) at risk of coastal flooding and also at least £10 billion of assets at risk of coastal erosion.

SMP are now required to look ahead for three time periods: 0-20, 20-50 and 50-100 years, and to work within one of four options:

*Holding the existing line, by maintaining or changing the standard of protection
* Advancing the existing line, by building new defences on the seaward side of original defences
* Managed realignment, by allowing the shoreline to move backwards or forwards through controlled movement; and
* No active intervention, where there is no investment in coastal defences or operations

It's the last two options which will almost certainly cause most problems with coastal residents around Britain's shores.

We already have an SMP for Sussex which is the responsibility of the South Downs Coastal Group. Here's their website: click here

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