Managed re-alignment
The potential impacts from climate change, especially at the coast, will sometimes require us to do things differently or change our approach to managing the coastline. In East Sussex we have been working with the local partnership to set out a different approach.
Cuckmere Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy
Background
The Cuckmere Estuary in East Sussex is nestled beside white cliffs on one of the most recognised English coastlines.
Thousands of people visit the country park here each year. But the landscape is not natural. Earth banks and ageing man-made flood defences contain the river and work is required every year to clear the river mouth of shingle.
Because no homes are at risk of flooding, government guidelines state that public flood risk management money cannot be spent rebuilding and enlarging the existing defences. But seasonal high tides already top the defences in places and sea levels are predicted to rise by one metre here over the next 100 years.
What we did and why
In 2007, we consulted on the best way to manage these problems in the future.
Over half of the local people who responded agreed that we needed to change the way we managed flooding in the estuary. We informed them that if we stopped maintaining the flood defences, the area would become part of the tidal system again. Some local footpaths would be lost and sections of others would need to be raised.
As well as removing the need for higher defences, this would allow water to move in and out of the natural floodplain and keep the river mouth open. It currently costs £50,000 a year to move shingle in order to keep the river mouth open.
Philippa Harrison, Project Manager, said, ‘It was hard for us to recommend that we should stop defending the area from flooding. But meeting with local people and talking to them on a one-to-one basis at drop-in exhibitions really helped. ‘
‘Through the Cuckmere Estuary Partnership we have also worked with some of the area’s biggest landowners to manage the effects these changes will bring. We believe this area will be an exciting place to visit for many years to come.’
Who was involved
Environment Agency
Natural England
The National Trust
East Sussex County Council
South Downs Joint Committee
Seaford Town Council
More information
