Coastal erosion management projects need funding in New Forest

Three coastal erosion management projects have been identified in the New Forest District Council (NFDC) area. These are at Hurst Spit, Milford-on-Sea and Barton-on-Sea.

On Thursday (June 13) members of the district council's environment overview and scrutiny panel will meet at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst., to discuss new ways of securing funds to ensure these areas remain protected.

Members will be told a project is required to reduce coastal flood risk along the frontage between Milford-on-Sea and Lymington, focusing on future management of Hurst Spit and the flood embankment between Milford-on-Sea and Lymington.

The cliffs at Barton-on-Sea are also susceptible to coastal erosion. In 2010 the council secured £300,000 to carry out ground investigations, and work – which included deployment of monitoring equipment – took place in 2012/13. However, further studies will be needed as part of risk management.

The executive summary of a report to the committee, accompanying the meetings, explained: "All these projects have a relatively low benefit to cost ration. This means that under current Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) guidance, none would be eligible for full funding via central government grant in aid.

"Central government funding will therefore only be available for a proportion of the scheme.

"In order to bridge the funding gap and to unlock government grant in aid, these projects will all require additional investment."

The report goes on to say that it is recognised that in order to receive the necessary level of funding, NFDC will "need to raise the additional funds to support and finance any future coastal protection scheme along NFDC coastline."

Members of the committee, which include chairman Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine and vice-chairman Cllr Sue Bennison, are set to meet at 2pm.