Row erupts over Ulverston coastal management plan (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Row erupts over Ulverston coastal management plan

12:01pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010

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ULVERSTON has been left out in the cold by planners who are trying to find ways of protecting the coastline in the north-west of England, according to its mayor.

Norman Bishop-Rowe was left fuming at the fact that the town was not included in a round of consultation meetings about the proposed Shoreline Management Plan, which he claims will have a major effect on Ulverston.

The plan has been put together by the North West and North Wales Coastal Group, a partnership made up of local authorities including South Lakeland District Council, Environment Agency and Natural England, and looks at how the coastline should be managed over the next 100 years.

Mr Bishop-Rowe said: “The whole of south Ulverston could be underwater in the next 75 to 100 years, as well as parts of Bardsea and Greenodd. Consultation meetings were held in Barrow, in Heysham and in Kendal - on the same day as our council meeting, so members were unable to attend - but none were held in our town.

“If the industrial area is flooded, we would be going back to how life was in the 1600s. After the flooding last year, residents of south Ulverston say they will not be able to sell their houses and leave, so they are stuck with this if it happens again.”

But Tom McCormick, environment protection officer at SLDC, denied that Ulverston would be underwater, and said he was meeting with council members on Monday (February 8) to discuss the plan.

He said: “If we leave the coast to nature, the erosion rates are so slow that we do not think it would flood Ulverston in 100 years. The flood management at Canal Foot does need maintenance, and as a result of this study, we will be able to apply to Defra for funding for this work.”

Regarding the lack of a meeting in Ulverston, he added: “We can’t do an indefinite nuymber of meetings and it is difficult to consult with everyone in this way. I had already arranged with the clerk to the parish council to hold a meeting on Monday when I was arranged the Kendal meeting.”

For more information on the plan, visit www.mycoastline.org. You can give feedback by emailing smp2@mycoastline.org or writing to North West England and North Wales Coastal Group, c/o Mrs F Crayston, Blackpool Borough Council, Westgate House, Squires Lane, Blackpool FY4 2TS.

The closing date for responses is Sunday, February 14.

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