Opportunity to find out more about our coastline

People living on the coast between Hurst Spit in the New Forest and Selsey Bill in West Sussex, are going to be consulted on the draft North Solent Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) when it is released for public comment on 1 February 2010.

The SMP outlines proposals to manage the coastal flooding and erosion risks to the North Solent shoreline for the next 20, 50 and 100 years. Residents in Fareham are invited to come along to their local exhibition at Ferneham Hall on Thursday 4 February to learn more about the coastal change affecting them. The exhibition is open from 2pm -7pm.

Extending from Hurst Spit in the west to Selsey Bill in the east, the SMP breaks down the coastline into different sections and recommends one of four policies for each area:

• Hold the line – maintain or upgrade the level of protection provided by existing defences
• Advance the line – build new defences seaward of existing defences
• Managed Realignment – allow retreat of the shoreline with management to control or limit movement
• No active intervention – not to invest in providing or maintaining defences

Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, Conservative Councillor David Swanbrow, said: "I would encourage Fareham residents to come along to the exhibition and find out more about the draft Shoreline Management Plan and comment on the policies. It is vitally important that we are planning for the future, not just in the short term but for the next 100 years. The plan provides a policy framework within which the council can work, and through which it can apply for government funding.”

John O'Flynn, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager said: "This public consultation on the draft North Solent Shoreline Management Plan represents a major step forward in the management of the Solent coast. We have been closely involved in developing policies that recognise the natural changes occurring in the Solent and balance the needs of people and the environment. We now look forward to hearing views from the public before the policies are finalised." 

The consultation will start on 1 February 2010 and run for three months.

The draft SMP, exhibition materials and feedback forms are available to view at http://www.northsolentsmp.co.uk/ (this is an external hyperlink) and at the local authority offices.