100-year-old plan to defend South Lakeland coastline (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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100-year-old plan to defend South Lakeland coastline
5:10pm Tuesday 28th September 2010 in News
A SHORELINE management plan to protect coastal communities against rising tides for the next 100 years has been adopted by South Lakeland District Council.
The plan is in response to the predicted rise in sea levels because of global warming with local authorities around the country preparing to defend threatened coastlines.
Proposed policies for each section of South Lakeland are set out in the plan and in most cases the council feels that no intervention is needed in the short term and agrees that a “hold the line” approach be adopted.
But some of the proposals for the medium to long term are as follows: * Protect Arnside and Sandside in the Kent Est-uary from flooding and erosion by creating flood storage areas and realign-ing existing defences.
* Set back defences in the Cartmel Peninsular and Duddon estuaries to protect the infrastructure and properties in the main villages and towns.
* Realign the flood risk area to protect property and infrastructure at Greenodd and allow the estuary to return to a more natural state.
* Allow the natural functioning of the shoreline in the Leven Estuary with the flood zone between Canal Foot and Ulverston needing protection in the long term.
“No properties in our area are at risk of coastal erosion in the next 20 to 50 years and this will be reviewed over time,” said Coun Clare Feeney-Johnson, portfolio holder for the environment and sustainability. “This plan will allow us to protect our communities over the long-term and preserve our coastline in the best possible ways.
“More importantly by accepting the plans which span the whole of the North West we, along with other authorities, can work with the Environ-ment Agency and apply for funding for flood protection where we need it most.”
The plan, drawn up from a review of the coastline from Great Ormes Head in Wales to the Solway Firth in the Scottish Borders, was approved by SLDC’s cabinet.
