Welcome to the DOC homepage

Drop-In Session, Dungeness 13.12.2011

In the light of the recent planning application submitted to KCC for shingle recycling from Dungeness a  public drop-in session took place on Tuesday, 13 December 2012 at the Britannia Inn, Dungeness . It provided  an  excellent  opportunity for local people to talk about the proposal  and how impacts of the works on local people can be minimised. Staff from the Environment Agency , Dungeness B Power Station ,  Natural England, and DOC Committee Members were at hand to answer any queries.

The Environment Agency has provided DOC with a very useful FAQ information sheet identifying some of the concerns raised by local residents in the light of this planning application. A public drop-in session has been arranged by the Environment Agency at the Britannia Inn, Dungeness Road, Dungeness for Tuesday, 13 December 2011 (6.00 pm - 9.00 pm) . All members of the public are invited to attend.

DOC Open Meeting 26.11.2011

DOC held its Annual Open Meeting last week which was very well attended by DOC Members , local Stakeholders and local residents of the Marsh in general. A very informative PowerPoint Presentation was given by staff from the Environment Agency followed by a Q & A session. The DOC Committee wishes to thank everyone for their generosity in providing items for the Raffle and Auction which raised much needed funds and to the proprietors of the Camber Castle Public House for providing the venue free of charge. The Environment Agency has provided us with a copy of their presentation for all those who could not join us on the night .

Why not come along and join us at our Annual Open Meeting on 26 November 2011? The event will take place at the Camber Castle Public House (1st Floor Function Room), Lydd Road, Camber from  7.30-9.30 pm and is open to all DOC Members, Stakeholders,  Supporters and Residents of the Marsh. If you are concerned about the effectiveness of our present sea defences on the Marsh and what consequence a potential failure would have for you and/or your property please come along to find out more. The Environment Agency will provide a PowerPoint presentation followed by a short Q&A session. Light refreshments & Raffle Prizes.

If you are concerned about the effectiveness of our sea defences or what impact inadequate maintenance or potential failure could have on your area, your property and your insurance, please come along and join us at our Annual Open Meeting on 26 November 2011 (7.30 pm - 9.30 pm) at the Camber Castle Public House, (1st Floor Function Room), Lydd Road, Camber to learn more. PowerPoint presentation by the Environment Agency followed by short Q & A session. Refreshments & Raffle. All residents of the Marsh are warmly invited to attend.

The Environment Agency is proposing to rebuild an integral part of Rye Harbour’s navigation channel in the new year. The 1.5 metre wall protects the harbour from the sea and guides the rivers Rother, Brede and Tillingham to the coast. For more detailed information please click here.

A drop-in session will also take place at Rye Harbour Village Hall on Wednesday, 2 November 2011 between 5pm and 8pm. An email mailbox has also been set up by the Environment Agency Project Team for any questions local residents may have concerning this issue.

DOC has submitted its comments with regard to the planning application presently lodged with Kent County Council for shingle recycling from Dungeness . DOC fully supports this application as the recharge of shingle is vital to the flood protection of the whole of the Marsh, much of which lies below spring tide level. The cost to the taxpayer of importing shingle from inland quarries would also be far more expensive.  Recycling has been successfully carried out from the proposed site since the early 1960s until it was stopped in  2007 and had no real adverse effect on neither the local communities nor the local economy. To view DOC’s full submission to KCC please click here.

With a recent planning application jointly submitted to KCC by the Environment Agency and EDF  for shingle recycling from the Dungeness Borrow Pit to protect essential flood defences on the Marsh, DOC felt that a more detailed statement from the Environment Agency might help to alleviate concerns and clarify any potential impact  on local communities. Please click here to read the EA Update in full.

This shingle recycling method has been successfully used since the 1960s until 2007 as can be seen from a previously published NRA Information Sheet in 1991.

DOC/EA/NE Site Visit

Following a meeting with Natural England and the Environment Agency on 6th October 2011 a site visit highlighted DOC’s concerns over the Denge frontage. The contrast between the Power Station protection and the shingle crest immediately to the west.  Attention was drawn to the fact that when the sea breaches  this length there is little to stop flooding of the power station switch house.

The photograph shows a view looking towards the power station from Denge Outfall. The outfall is now acting as a groyne but beyond the groyne the crest line has retreated several metres inland.

The predicated 4.4m spring tides the previous week were fortunately accompanied by little or no wind but seepage was observed through the shingle at the top of the tide. Subsequent tides have left a small crest which, hopefully the EA will use to reinforce the defences before it is lost round Dungeness Point.

High Tide and Storm Force Winds - Galloways Oct. 1999

At the end of September we had one of the highest tides of the year but luckily the weather was calm avoiding a  potential flooding disaster. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security!  The Marsh has flooded before and will do so again unless our sea defences are adequately strengthened and maintained. With every high tide we lose more shingle rendering all our local communities extremely vulnerable to flooding.

And for all those who stilll have doubts - here are some photographs taken on a Sunday in  October 1999 at high tide with storm force winds. These photographs were taken at Galloways from the Green Wall on the road leading to the Ranges Lookout when the waves surrounded the Lookout after the sea had breached the shingle wall between Galloways and the Brooks.

12 years on, and with a much reduced or literally non-existent shingle wall in place, a disaster is waiting to happen unless we get a move on and strengthen our weak defences.