www.defra.gov.uk Coas tal change adaptation path finder – application form Coastal change adaptation pathfinder – application form Notes on completing the form: • All applicants should refer to the eligibility criteria set out in section 3 of the Coastal Change Policy consultation document (http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/coastal-change/index.htm) and Notes for Applicants at page 7 of this form. • Please expand any text boxes as you require. Additional material can be included such as maps and photographs. • Your data will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act, please see section 3 of the Notes for Applicants. Section A: Authority Information 1. Local Authority address: Dorset County Council County Hall Colliton Park Dorchester Dorset DT1 1XJ 2. Contact details - lead officer: Mr Peter Moore Environment Policy Group Manager Dorset County Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ [email protected] 01305 224285 3. Contact Details - finance officer: Mr Mark Foxwell Assistant Business Manager Finance and Performance Dorset County Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ [email protected] 01305 224211 4. Head of Service: I confirm that I have authority to make a grant application, and that I have read the grants notes for applicants and that by submitting this application I confirm this authority accepts them. In particular, I agree to participate in future Defra run events to evaluate the effectiveness of the pathfinder programme. Signature: Position: Head of Planning (Head of Service) Date: 11 Sept 2009 Section B: Background Information 1. Experience of coastal change in your area (historical, current and future risk). Please provide a description of the coastal change risks that your community faces. You may include maps and photographs as supporting evidence. Introduction Dynamic natural processes have created a variety of impressive and beautiful landforms, sheltered bays and outstanding beaches on the Dorset and East Devon Coast, popularly known as the ‘Jurassic Coast’, which are now home to a diversity of coastal communities. The Dorset and East Devon Coast was designated as a World Heritage Site (WHS) in 2001 for its geological, palaeontological and geomorphological importance. Much of this coast and its surrounding area are designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in recognition of their landscape value, while large sections also enjoy Heritage Coast status. The natural beauty and diversity recognised in these designations underpins economic, social and cultural life in vibrant coastal towns and villages. It also supports a rich biodiversity and provides a vast range of leisure and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Indeed, the coast is regarded as the area’s greatest asset, certainly in terms of the visitor economy, and the South West Coast Path is a vital piece of infrastructure for visitors and residents alike. The towns of the Jurassic Coast are themselves part of this interest and collectively make the coast an attractive place to live, work and visit. Historic risk Communities along this vulnerable coastline have faced catastrophic risks throughout history in the form of extreme storms and their impacts. The Great Storm of 1824 destroyed the Cobb, the famous harbour at Lyme Regis, together with numerous sea front properties. The same storm devastated West Bay and the community of Chiswell on Portland. Further East, communities in Devon were also affected such as those at Sidmouth. More recently, the storm of 1974 caused major damage and flooding to West Bay and Seaton while two events in the winter of 1979-80 caused extensive damage when the great barrier beach of Chesil was over-topped and breached by the sea. The risks from major episodic storms are therefore immediate and ever present: the Great Storm of 1824 was a 1:200 year event that took place 185 years ago. The photographs at Appendix 1 illustrate the impacts of coastal change on the communities of the Jurassic Coast. History shows that communities on the Jurassic Coast also face more subtle threats from landslides and beach evolution. In 1924 it was possible to drive along the Old Lyme Road through the Black Ven landslide between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Today the area is an active landslide system that is migrating towards both communities, particularly Lyme Regis. The great landslip of 1839 between Lyme Regis and Axmouth profoundly affected agriculture and was a key event in the creation of today’s Undercliff National Nature Reserve. Current and future risk Protecting coastal communities through coastal defences in many cases impacts on the natural interests which are maintained by erosion. In other words local communities are threatened by the same coastal change which provides such an important part of their history, culture and economic raison d’etre. The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP2) review, coupled with the National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping, now provides the evidence base to look at the implications for coastal erosion on a site by site basis. Two SMPs cover the Dorset and East Devon Coasts: the South Devon and Dorset SMP runs from Durlston Head near Swanage in the East to Rame Head in the West, and the Two Bays SMP, covering Poole and Christchurch Bays, runs east from Durlston Head. Draft policies for the Jurassic Coast from each SMP are summarised below and illustrate the coastal change risks facing this coast: Key: NAI – No Active Intervention; MR – Managed Realignment; HTL – Hold the Line Short term Medium Long Policy and implications term term Two Bays SMP – Only to Swanage included New Swanage HTL HTL MR Potential loss of cliff top property Durlston Bay MR MR NAI The policy would not preclude local drainage improvements South Devon and Dorset SMP – only to Orcombe included Kimmeridge (defended MR MR MR Continue to reduce the risk of flooding and length) erosion by retaining a defence, but relocating landward as necessary through Managed Realignment Lulworth Cove MR MR MR As above (defended length) Ringstead Bay NAI except NAI NAI 5g10 – hold the line in the short term as long as (defended length) 5g10 HTL this remains feasible but moving to NAI in the medium and long term with associated loss of property. Osmington NAI NAI NAI Potential loss of properties at Osmington and risk to the Osmington Bay Holiday Centre Bowleaze Cove HTL MR HTL Managed realignment in the medium term will involve the loss/relocation of parts of the caravan site and the amusements Furzy Cliff NAI NAI NAI National Coastal erosion risk maps show risk to the road and properties but this is not stated in the SMP Preston Beach Road HTL HTL MR Flooding of the A353 and the long term viability of the A353 is in question. Preston Beach, HTL HTL HTL There are challenges in terms of how to hold the Weymouth and line and prevent flooding but the policy is HTL Portland Harbour throughout Chiswell to Chesil HTL HTL HTL As above Beach West Bay (East Beach) HTL HTL MR In the longer term a new line of defence will be required further inland with potential loss of property including listed buildings Seatown HTL MR MR The change in policy in the medium term could lead to loss of the public house, private property, public toilets, turning circle, slipway and coast path over the river. Charmouth HTL NAI/MR NAI/MR The sea wall will be held for the rest of its design life but after that property and infrastructure in that area will be lost. Cliff top properties to the west will also be at risk. Lyme Regis East Cliff HTL HTL MR The current scheme, when complete, will ‘buy’ 50 to 60 years for the eastern part of the town but after that it will no longer be viable or sustainable to hold the line. Haven Cliff NAI NAI NAI The long-term vision for this stretch of coast is to continue to allow the natural evolution and function of the coast, which could result in damage to Rousden Registered Park and Garden Axe Estuary HTL HTL HTL To retain defences in order to protect the towns, the highway and sewage works Seaton/Beer HTL HTL HTL Requiring substantial additional defences to protect the large number of properties at risk. Sidmouth HTL HTL HTL To provide protection such that the risk to the town is minimised, allowing the cliffs to erode but at a slower rate Otter Estuary MR/HTL/NAI MR/NAI/HTL MR/NAI To encourage natural development of the estuary whilst maintaining reduced flood risk to developed areas Budleigh Salterton HTL HTL HTL To continue to provide protection to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion Orcombe Maer HTL HTL HTL To minimise the risk of flooding whilst looking for opportunities to reinstate a more natural process where this might be possible Changing sea levels and their link to the landslides are responsible for the beaches of the Jurassic Coast, particularly Chesil Bank. The bulk of the beach came out of the rapid erosion of the ancient landslides at the end of the Ice Age but that process has now slowed and the beaches are being starved of material, complicated in places by engineering structures built over the last two centuries (e.g. the Cobb and the piers at West Bay). In the future, beach lowering, coupled with sea level rise and increased storminess due to climate change, threatens many communities and is likely to lead to accelerated erosion rates in excess of historic cliff recession. This means that historic erosion rates may underestimate future erosion. Future change on along this internationally important stretch of coast will, in most cases, be sudden, unpredictable and potentially catastrophic rather than gradual, so even where the prevailing Shoreline Management Plan policy is to ‘Hold the Line’ communities face imminent threats.