Coastal erosion is subject of meetings

dave.tanner@archant.co.uk
12 October 2009

PEOPLE living between Hartland Point in Devon and Anchor Head, near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, are being asked for their views on how this stretch of coastline and its estuaries should be managed.

A series of events is being held to present the draft North Devon and Somerset Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), which considers flood and erosion risk management.

The following meetings are being held:

* Tuesday 13 October , Princess Hall Theatre, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, for the coast and estuaries between Hinkley Point and Weston-super-Mare.

* Wednesday 14 October, Northfield Hotel, Minehead, Somerset, for the coast between Foreland Point and Hinkley Point.

* Thursday 15 October, The Cedars Inn, Barnstaple, Devon, for the coast and estuaries between Hartland Point and Foreland Point.

Each event will include formal presentations and discussions between 3pm and 5pm and an open exhibition, which anyone is welcome to visit, between 5pm and 7:30pm.

A further event is being held in conjunction with the Environment Agency Steart project on Tuesday , October 27, at Otterhampton Village Hall, Somerset. This is an open exhibition, between 2.30pm and 7:30pm, which will cover issues specific to the Steart Peninsula.

"A Shoreline Management Plan provides an assessment of the risks to people and the developed, historic and natural environment, resulting from the evolution of the coast and estuaries," said project manager Angela Proctor from the Environment Agency.

"It is vital that we engage as many people as possible who have an interest in this issue during these consultation events, to ensure we are making informed and sustainable decisions.

Coastal group chairman Humphrey Temperley said: "Coastal erosion is nothing new - communities have suffered its effects throughout history and it will go on happening. We need to look now at how we can cope with it over the next 100 years, given what we know about the resources that will be available and how the coast will change."

The events are open to all stakeholders and are free to attend. For further information on the SMP, including a copy of the draft document, please visit www.ndascag.org. Copies of the document will also be available for viewing at your local library, council office or Environment Agency office.

The three month public consultation for North Devon and Somerset SMP, will run through until January 8, 2010.