7:20pm Friday 27th November 2009
By Jim Durkin
FLOOD defences and the future shape of the Dorset coastline will come under the spotlight with a series of road shows next week.
Residents across Purbeck, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the New Forest have been invited to view the Shoreline Management Plan (SMS), which covers the coastline from Hurst Spit to Durlston Head.
The blueprint, which is now being consulted on, is one of 49 plans across the country which will help the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs form their flood and coastal defence strategies for decades to come.
It takes on particular significance this week after the devastation caused by widespread flooding in Cumbria.
Each SMS breaks the coastline into different sections and recommends one of four policies.
* Hold the line – maintain or upgrade the level of protection provided by defences.
* Advance the line – build new defences seaward of existing defences.
* Managed realignment – allow realignment of the shoreline with management to control or limit movement.
* No active intervention – not to invest in providing or maintaining defences. Policies for the entire 118 mile coastal section, which includes five local authority areas, vary between hold the line and no active intervention.
Purbeck District Council natural environment spokesman Andrew Starr, said: “The Shoreline Management Plan will assist in protecting our communities against the long term risk of tidal flooding and will help determine the future shape of our coastline “These events will enable the public to learn more about the plans and talk to specialists.”
Each authority will host a road show, and will present the proposed policies for their areas.
Coastal engineers and environment agency representatives will explain proposals and answer queries.
ROAD SHOWS * New Forest: December 1. Beachcomber Café, Barton on Sea, 1-7pm * Purbeck: December 2. Wareham Town Hall, 10am-2pm. Swanage Town Hall, 3-7pm * Bournemouth: December 3. Bournemouth International Centre, 10am to 6pm, with presentations at two-hourly intervals.
Poole: December 4. Dolphin Shopping Centre, 9.30am-4pm.
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