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15 coastal change pathfinder authorities who will explore new ways of adapting to coastal change have been announced on the Defra website. These include  Hastings and East Sussex.

From a press release:

Support for coastal communities in adapting to coastal change was announced today when the government awarded £11 million in grants to fifteen local authorities who had come up with the best and most innovative ideas for dealing with and adapting to coastal change.

Details of all the coastal change pathfinders can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/manage/pathfinder/index.htm Read more »

Broomhill towards Lydd Ranges 22.11.2009

48 hours of relentless stormy weather has caused further deterioration of our already vulnerable coastline and the forecast for next week shows no sign of reprieve! The beach at Galloways clearly shows the effects of  recent overtopping  with the crest further reduced and now in a very  poor state . The wooden driveway,  left in place for future repair works at Galloways, has been moved by the power of the  waves. The Broomhill frontage has also taken a severe battering . Read more »

In the light of Government’s recent decision to exclude Dungeness from  the list of potential sites for  further Nuclear Power Stations  DOC finds it necessary to issue the following statement.

The Environment Agency has issued a Newsletter concerning the 2009 Annual Beach Recharge between the Suttons to Coastguard’s Cottages within the Broomhill Frontage. If you have any queries concerning this project please contact Tom Dauben  direct at the  Environment Agency on 01732 223143 or email DOC at info@defendourcoast.org.uk

Data Logger Installation/Broomhill

Following recent   Ground Investigation work carried out on behalf of the Environment Agency ,  some data loggers have been left  in-situ on the beach at Broomhill Sands.

These data loggers are installed to record fluctuations in the water table.  During the  consultation on the Folkestone to Cliff End Strategy a local resident  had asked a question about potential seepage under the defence and the EA’s  work is in response to this.

Three of the data loggers are raised above the ground. The installation  basically  consists of a pipe within a pipe within a pipe.  From the  beach you will see the external twin wall pipe.  If you look through the chicken wire on the top, you’ll see a padlocked cover over the standpipe. Read more »

DOC has been given sight of the EA’s  response to Defra’s Consultation on Coastal Change Policy in which the EA states:-

“We welcome the Coastal Change consultation and believe that for decisions to be made about a sustainable future for the coast there must be meaningful practical support for those affected by coastal change.

We:

• support the proposals for a coastal erosion assistance package for individuals and the use of the coastal change fund for community adaptation pathfinders
• see this as a positive initiative which needs to give local authorities sufficient flexibility to apply within their communities
• would like a clear policy and financial framework beyond 2011 that includes better levels of support to individuals at the ‘front line’ of coastal change
• welcome the Community Adaptation Planning and Engagement guidance, and have already adopted its principles in joint Environment Agency / local authority engagement work on Shoreline Management Plans and erosion maps.” ….

The full response is now also available on the  the Environment Agency website

Following the recent high tides our Technical Officer Tony Hills has carried out further inspections on the state of our sea defences in various locations

and reports as follows:- Read more »

UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09) is a climate analysis tool, funded by Defra, which features the most comprehensive climate projections ever produced. Projections are broken down to a regional level across the UK and are shown in probabilistic form — illustrating the potential range of changes and the level of confidence in each prediction.

How the climate may change in your region (requires Flash)

Littlestone Outfall - 20 September 2009

On the 20 September 2009 our Technical Officer, Tony Hills, raised his concerns with the Environment Agency  regarding  the accumulation of shingle  at the Outfall at Littlestone and the resulting flood risk  for local areas. The situation was promptly remedied at that time.

Littlestone Outfall - 6 October 2009

Unfortunately the shingle , which was removed from this location not more than two weeks ago , has returned  resulting in the Outfall being re-blocked and creating a renewed flooding risk. The expected rainfall forecast for today, coupled with high winds, will exacerbate this situation with water not being able to run off and  putting properties yet again at risk from flooding.

There is an urgent need to move the shingle back to the area of the Littlestone water tower and local residents need to be reassured that Government Agencies are taking this flooding threat seriously.

Increased pump pressure forces water through top of outfall.

Work Update  - 30 September 2009

The Environment Agency has advised DOC that they will be closing the main slipway in Dymchurch for refurbishment; week commencing Monday 5 October 2009.

Central Access Compound Area Dymchurch

Also  in the week commencing 5 October the EA will start building a temporary beach access ramp from the area by the turning circle on the sea wall. They will  secure the central access compound as detailed on the attached map. Read more »