Dorset On The Brink

Daily Mail's Top Jurassic Beaches

2009-08-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

The best beaches on the Jurassic Coast are in Dorset, according to the Daily Mail.
In a feature about Devon and Dorset's World Heritage Site, the newspaper lists the best areas as Weymouth, Portland Harbour, Swanage, Studland Bay, Knoll Beach, Shell Beach[sic], Lulworth Cove and Charmouth Beach.
The details suggest the author is not overly familiar with the county.
He/she says "Shell Beach" is "reached by ferry from the mainland". True, if you're coming from Bournemouth or Poole, Shell Bay is most easily reached via the Sandbanks Ferry, but the Studland Peninsula is not an island and can easily be reached by road.
The article also lists Knoll Beach as a separate location to the "three-mile sandy curve with nature reserve behind" called Studland Bay. A quick check on the map or the National Trust website will reveal that Knoll Beach is at the very centre of Studland Beach and Nature Reserve.
Read the Dail Mail feature...

Algae Ruining Dorset's Coast

2009-08-21T01:28:00.000-07:00

An increase in algae is threatening parts of Dorset's coast, according to the Environment Agency.
Farmland fertilisers and sewage systems are largely to blame for the green slime, which has been building up in Poole Bay and Holes Bay, in Poole Harbour.
The BBC News website says the algae is affecting natural habitats such as mud flats, which are home to wading birds.
Read the BBC News story...

Government Recommends Natural England Chair

2009-08-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

Environment secretary Hilary Benn has recommended a new chair for Natural England.
The MP has asked the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to consider Poul Christensen when it holds a public hearing on the vacancy.
Mr Christiansen is currently acting chair for Natural England.
The organisation advises the Government on the best way to preserve the natural environment.
It designates Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves such as the Axmouth-Lyme Regis Undercliffs (SSSI and NNR) and South Dorset Coast SSSI at Kimmeridge Bay.
See the Defra press release...

Landlocked County Gets Coast Report

2009-08-13T23:43:00.001-07:00

An Irish economist published a report detailing coast erosion problems in a landlocked county of Ireland.
The Irish Independent reported Dr Peter Bacon, who has most recently been put in charge of the country's National Asset Management Agency, produced the report on economic development in Longford in 2001.
Dr Bacon said he had no memory of the detail in the report but joked: "It even got their coastal problems ordered."
See the Independent.ie story...

Nature Reserve Could 'Disappear'

2009-08-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

Hengistbury Head nature reserve could be eroded by the sea in the next 100-200 years.
The Bournemouth Echo cites the findings of the Poole and Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan, which considers the implications of a breach in the Double Dykes area of the promontory.
The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a breach would turn it into an island.
Read the Bournemouth Echo story...

Trust Offers Guided Walk

2009-08-12T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hikers can learn about the challenges of coastal conservation in East Devon through a guided walk.
National Trust area warden Stuart Britton is leading the hike from Branscombe to Sidmouth on Saturday.
Read the Sidmouth Herald story...

Landowners Promised 'Sensitive' Footpath Talks

2009-08-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

Natural England has promised landowners it will be as sensitive as possible when negotiating a coastal footpath around Britain.
Country Life magazine said many were questioning the necessity of the scheme, which would create non-stop route around the English coast.
The plan, which is part of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, is expected to cost £50 million over 10 years. Country Life said one of the key concerns was a 'roll-back' clause - if a footpath becomes eroded the route will automatically be moved inland instead of being renegotiated with the landowner.
Read the Country Life story...

Seafront Property Is Buoyant

2009-08-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

A Bournemouth estate agent says seafront property prices are recovering faster than those of inland homes, despite the increased threat of flooding.
Nigel Still of Stephen Noble Lane Fox told The Independent: "We've sold several mid-and top-range waterside properties recently, where prices dropped by 10% in the depths of the market but have now returned to their pre-slump level. If the properties were 50 yards back, values would still be down 15% to 20%."
Meanwhile, Mr Still says residents in Canford Cliffs who share the same BH13 postcode as Sandbanks are suffering at the hands of insurance companies. He says his insurer increased his premium by 100%, leaving him to prove his home was not on a cliff or on the threatened peninsula.
Read The Independent story...

A Third Of Coast Is Inaccessible

2009-08-03T02:19:00.000-07:00

More than a third of England's coastline is inaccessible, according to Natural England.
A study, conducted with the help of 53 local authorities, revealed that more than 1,000 miles of coastline is either inaccessible or lacks secure access.
The south west fared best in the report where 73% of coastline can be reached, compared with just 44% in the north west of England.
Natural England conducted the report for the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, which aims to increase the number of coastal paths.
Read the Natural England press release...

Injured Fossil Hunter Seeks Compensation

2009-07-30T02:35:00.000-07:00

A taxi driver injured in a rockfall at Seatown is hoping to receive compensation for his injuries.
Dave McGowan, of Bournemouth, was fossil hunting on the beach when he was hit by falling debris, breaking his leg.
According to the Bournemouth Echo, the 41-year-old says he may never work again and could even lose his home.
The Wraxall family, which owns part of the beach, says the incident happened outside their property. West Dorset District Council also says the rock fall did not occur on their land.
Read the Bournemouth Echo story...

Union Urges Action On Flooding

2009-07-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

The National Farmers Union has told the Government to stop consulting and start acting to provide flood and coastal defences.
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond accused the Environment Agency of being "power-heavy and duty light".
Responding to the Government's draft Flood and Water Management Bill, he said: "We're asking for the Bill to place an express duty on the agency to provide adequate flood and coastal defences.
"We've got to have concrete action rather than endless consultation."
Read the NFU press release...

Jurassic And Climate Lectures Announced

2009-07-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

A series of lectures about the Jurassic Coast and climate change have been announced.
Exmouth Visitor Centre Trust is holding the free lecture series from September to December at Exmouth Community College.
The lecture series will continue in 2010 with a series of field trips.
The trust is currently waiting to find out whether its bid for funding has been successful.
Read the Exmouth Journal story...

Approval As Shore Consultation Ends

2009-07-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

County councillors in Devon have given a cautious welcome to a revised Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for South Devon and Dorset.
A consultation on the revised plan ends tomorrow. Some residents objected to the proposed managed realignment and the adverse effect it could have on Alma Bridge and the eastern part of Sidmouth.
The SMP, being developed for South Devon and Dorset Coastal Advisory Group, will update the one published in 1998. It sets out how coastal risk between Plymouth and Swanage should be managed over the next century.
Read the Sidmouth Herald story...

Seabeds Earmarked For Protection

2009-07-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Three sites on Dorset's coast have been earmarked for protection as part of a proposed European conservation network.
Seabeds and reefs in Lyme Bay, Portland and between Ringstead Bay and Studland have been chosen by Natural England to become part of a Special Area of Conservation.
If approved, the Poole Bay to Lyme Bay Special Area of Conservation could become part of a wider European scheme called Natura 2000.
According to the Bournemouth Echo, the proposal will undergo a full consultation later in the year.
Read the Bournemouth Echo story...

Eroding Coasts Could Be Developed

2009-07-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Government is set to allow temporary developments on land susceptible to coast erosion.
A consultation paper published today draws on a report by the Environment Agency, which is mapping coastal erosion rates.
Under the new guidance, councils would be encouraged to consider schemes such as beach huts and car parks that could help boost the local economy.
Read the Communities and Local Government press release...

Surfer Saves Coast With Lettuce

2009-07-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

A surf project co-ordinator is raising awareness about coast protection with a series of unusual projects.
Robyn Davies, who works for the National Trust in Cornwall, is hoping to remind people of the links between sustainable living and rising sea levels with the help of a mobile vegetable patch.
She told the Independent On Sunday: "Growing your own veg cuts down on food miles, which helps to slow down the effects of climate change and protect our coasts. It's all connected."
Ms Davies has also been asking visitors to use red flags to guess the rate of coast erosion at Godrevy, on the north coast of the Cornish peninsula, and many have been shocked to discover the real answer.
Read the Independent On Sunday story...

Coastal Archaeologist Elected To Academy

2009-07-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

A coastal archaeology expert has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy.
Professor Martin Bell, of the University of Reading's archaeology department, was chosen for his research into archaeology and how it can inform our understanding of long-term environmental change. He is also an expert on coastal environments, in particular the Severn Estuary.
He said: "I am delighted to get recognition for the developing, and very muddy, field of coastal archaeological research.
"This is currently a hot topic with increasing involvement nationally and internationally from the heritage agencies.
"Coastal sites are under threat from sea level rise and growing development pressures.
"Archaeology helps us understand the origins and history of coastal environments, which are of nature conservation importance, as well as the role of episodic environmental change and the effect of people on their history."
Academics are invited to become fellows of the British Academy in recognition of scholarly research.
Read the press release on Media Newswire...

Historic Landslip Recreated For Visitors

2009-07-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Attractions planned for a new visitor centre on the Jurassic Coast include the recreation of a giant landslip which happened 170 years ago.
East Devon District Council has released plans for the proposed £3m visitor centre at Seaton, according to the Midweek Herald.
Partners in the project are bidding for £968,000 of funding from the Government's Sea Change programme to build the Jurassic Gateway Visitor Centre.
The plans, along with a similar bid for Exmouth, are being considered by CABE (Commission for Architecture in the Built Environment).
The project has already been pledged more than £2m by supermarket developers and Devon County Council.
Read the Midweek Herald story...

Dredging Resumes At Hayling Island

2009-07-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

A dredging vessel has begun replenishing beaches around Hayling Island near Portsmouth.
The Sospan Dau will spend the coming month clearing shingle from the channels around the island and using it to build up the shore at Eastoke.
The operation forms the second phase of a five-year beach replenishment programme.
Havant Borough Council said the work was necessary to minimise flood risk to waterside properties.
Parts of the beach will be closed while work takes place. The current phase is expected to be complete by mid-August.
Read the Maritime Journal story...

Fossil Hunter Injured In Rock Fall

2009-07-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

A man has been injured by falling rocks while collecting fossils near Bridport.
The 41-year-old had to be taken by helicopter to hospital suffering with leg injuries.
The rockfall happened on the beach at Seatown, a popular area for fossil hunters.
Paramedics treated the man for a suspected broken leg before he was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital on Saturday at 5pm.
Read the Dorset Echo story...

New Flood Defence Chairman Appointed

2009-07-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

Defra has appointed a new chair for the Regional Flood Defence Committee in Wessex.
Alan Lovell will take the post from today, along with two other chair people for Thames and Northumbria regions.
Regional Flood Defence Committees are responsible for decisions made on flood and coastal erosion defence works carried out by the Environment Agency.
Mr Lovell will remain in the post until June 30, 2012.
Read the Defra press release...

Counties Join To Tackle Coast Problems

2009-06-26T01:36:00.000-07:00

A partnership has been set up to decide on how to protect the Dorset and Devon coastline.
The South Devon and Dorset Coastal Advisory Group, led by Teignbridge District Council, is producing a shoreline management plan for the two counties to decide on a sustainable way to manage erosion and flood risk.
The area covered runs from Durlston Head, east of Swanage, to Rame Head, near Plymouth. Partners in the project include Natural England, Network Rail, Defra, the Environment Agency as well as district and county councils.
A public consultation by the group is due to finish on Friday, July 24.
Read the Herald Express story...

Southampton Flood Barrier Scheme Unveiled

2009-06-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

A giant barrier the size of the Eiffel Tower could be installed across Southampton Water to protect the city from floods, the Daily Echo reports.
The scheme is just one of the options being considered by councillors to protect the city from tidal surges over the next century.
A retractable barrier, similar to the one which protects Rotterdam Harbour, would help protect the 7,000 homes deemed at risk of flooding by a recent Environment Agency report.
Read the Dail Echo story...

Survey Reveals Ancient Sea Levels

2009-06-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

The discovery of an ancient riverbed below the sea off Dorset puts concerns about climate change into context, according to a university professor.
The prehistoric riverbed has been discovered off Lulworth Cove during a seabed mapping survey.
According to Prof Vince May of Bournemouth University, the area would have been completely dry from about 185,000 years ago until the sea levels rose. They are thought to have subsided again 70,000 years ago and returned about 12,000 years ago.
He told the Bournemouth Echo: "It puts current concerns about se level rise in context and suggests that we could rename Weymouth."
The Dorset Integrated Seabed Study (Doris) will eventually cover 800sq km from Swanage to Abbotsbury.
Read the Bournemouth Echo story...

One In Six Homes Could Flood

2009-06-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

One in six homes in England are at risk from flooding, according to an Environment Agency report.
A separate study, also released today, said investment to build and maintain flood defences needs to double over the next 25 years to £1bn a year.
The two reports look at how climate change will increase the risk of coastal erosion and flooding from rivers and the sea.
Read the Environment Agency press release...

Historic Monuments To Be Relocated

2009-06-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Historic monuments and castles on Britain's coast could be moved inland to stop them falling into the sea.
The proposal is just one solution being considered by Defra, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The consultation paper also suggests offering grants to people whose homes are at risk from coastal erosion.
According to Defra, around 200 homes could be lost to the sea over the next 20 years.
The money would help homeowners pay for demolition and moving costs.
In 2007, Clavell Tower in Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset, was dismantled and rebuilt 25m inland away from the eroding cliff at a cost of £898,000.
Read the Daily Telegraph story...

Seaside Communities Have Their Say

2009-06-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

Seaside communities are being asked about the challenges their changing coastline will bring.
Defra (the Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs) has launched a consultation to find out how coastal erosion and flooding will affect families, businesses, infrastructure and heritage.
Assistance could include buy and lease back schemes for home that will be lost of coastal erosion and grants to cover demolition and moving costs.
Read the Defra press release...