The Rising Problem of Coastal Erosion

The Rising Problem of Coastal Erosion

Wherever you are in Hampshire, you can never be that far from the coast, and even those of you in the north of the County will have dealings with it at some point.

Ihave read and seen an awful lot on the rising problem of coastal erosion. Even the diehard climate change cynic will have to accept that storms are more prevalent, and tides are rising as our planet is going though a warming period.

What caused the warming and what can be done are debates for another article, and there have been very many as we all know. But I saw one the other day that put things in a different light.

Basically, the angle was – “WE (Great Britain) ARE ISLANDS, THE PLANET IS WARMING SO TIDES WILL RISE, OUR COASTLINES WILL SUFFER – GET OVER IT!”

It was a completely new and refreshing view for me.

The article, I must credit to Nigel Richardson, Daily Telegraph.

Two very interesting points came to mind, both concerning coastal defence projects. As someone who lives very near the coast, I applaud the work going on to protect Southsea from flooding by sea, but all actions have a consequence.

1. Protect yourselves form Development and unprotect yourself from flooding by sea.

There are some lovely examples of people getting together to protect their neighbourhoods form being ruined by development. Just down the way in Sussex, the beautiful Witterings have been

saved by the locals buying shares in the land to prevent to the postwar spread of holiday camps.

But such actions mean there will be no funding for coastal protection. No properties at risk of damage equals no coastal defences, a low “benefit:cost ratio”.

So, there may be no buildings to ruin your view of the sea, but that sea will keep getting nearer.

2. Protect one part of the coast, only to kick the problem down the road (or coast).

The action of erosion, by breaking cliffs into rubble and shingle, actually helps protect areas down the way. All that new shingle finds its way to protect the next area to be attacked by the sea.

In Clamping, Sussex, one farmer has accepted his lands fate, losing 9 acres of land to the sea so far, and refers to a map from 1606 showing the coastline 300 metres south of its current position. Embracing the change instead, he is behind a 160km long rewilding project utilising the now marshland. 

Andrew Prismall

Managing Director of HW Conveyancing Searches