Sunday, 10 September 2017

Beach Management Plan: to meet on 13th September >>> ensuring clear and accurate information is available so that decisions may be made on a responsible and informed basis

The District Council's press release about what it wants to see happens with Sidmouth's beaches has been much publicised in the press:
Sidmouth beach protection scheme consultants to explain next stage of multi-million pound plan - Devon Live

 However, behind the scenes, there are several serious misgivings about the impression being made by the official channels.

 First: there are the FAQs on Sidmouth's BMP:
Sidmouth Beach Management Plan: Frequently Asked Questions - East Devon

Many of which are either misleading or inaccurate, despite several being 'updated': 

 - FAQ 12: In fact, nothing had actually been changed on when it was "updated" (i.e. confirmed or approved) - apart from adding 'groynes'. 
It still fails to offer any explanation for the stripping away of the eastern beach in recent years - coincidentally with the installation of the rock groynes.
The offshore breakwaters further west almost certainly have not had a deleterious effect on the eastern beach but, on the contrary, appear to have succeeded in providing a sustainable beach management solution, which (with the help of a small rock armour by the esplanade) has incidentally produced a sandy tombolo and a safe haven for water sports, enhancing the value for the town's tourism and other amenities.

 - FAQ 17: This promises liaison between the Port Royal project and the BMP. The success of Port Royal depends on clarity about the BMP.

- FAQ 21: This states that the BMP steering group rejected all rock revetment options.
A paper from Natural England and the Jurassic Coast team at FAQ 18 compares the rock armouring at Branscombe:

However, this still remains highly controversial within the Sidmouth community and beyond, many of whom would still prefer this solution:
- A final FAQ: It has been recommended that an additional question should be included to the FAQs, i.e. the very "frequently asked question" of why the installation of offshore breakwaters on the eastern beach, which the consultants recognise as the most effective way to restore the beach and protect the heritage cliffs, has not been pursued as the "preferred option". 
Any member of the public, on reading the FAQs, would be unaware that this has been the main area for discussion in the BMP steering group for a long time. 
It is clear that the rock groynes have been a poor solution, and that the granite could now be recycled to replicate the breakwaters that have proved themselves further west.

 Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan >>> frequently asked questions >>> last updated 6th September: and still fail to address explicitly the arguments against and in favour of offshore reefs to create a self-sustaining sand tombolo
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan >>> frequently asked questions >>> last updated 23rd August

 Second: the draft Minutes of the last meeting of the BMP steering group have not been published - and are to date, it is feared, both misleading and inaccurate in terms of the discussions and decisions made:
17 March 2017 - Steering group supports moving Sidmouth BMP scheme through to next stage - East Devon
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: Cabinet approves next stage
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: choosing consultants to draw up a business case

 Third: the perception is that the process has been so flawed and improper that it is most unlikely to produce the optimum outcome:

 The public doesn't seem to interested or impressed by what's on offer for the seafront:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: and asking the public to fund a public project >>> four months on and £100 richer
Royal Haskoning were awarded the consultants' contract - having done the same job the last time round:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: Consultants for 'investigatory work' appointed
It is clear that the District Council is pushing for one proposal:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: 'technically favoured' option or 'preferred' option - and 'preferred' by whom?
- as against that recommended by the experts:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: all agencies support both options
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: looking for funding for the 'technically preferred' option 4b >>> latest reports
The latest press release from the District Council talks about 'modelling' - but it is not clear which modelling is meant:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: ‘major discrepancies’ in the predicted costs of modelling and maintenance
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: "More careful consideration is needed, starting with comparative modelling."

Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: to meet on 13th September >>> but exactly what is to be 'modelled'?

 Fourth: the engineering proposals being put forward by the District Council ('S1 Option') are unnecessarily heavy-handed:

 A FAQ on what options are to be considered in computer modelling would be useful. 
It has been suggested that there should be an enquiry into whether the intrusive size of the current rock islands is an unnecessary piece of over-engineering, that could release more rock materials for recycling further east.

 Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan >>> and working with nature >>> low-cost, low-key alternatives to heavy-handed engineering

 Fifth: on the other hand, it was clearly agreed that two Options would go forward for consideration:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: all agencies support both options
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: looking for funding for the 'technically preferred' option 4b >>> latest reports
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: ‘major discrepancies’ in the predicted costs of modelling and maintenance

 Sixth: it is clear to most observers that the BMP is connected to other key issues - the question is whether the District Council chooses to make those connections:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal > and the Beach Management Plan > and the Traffic Management Plan

 And finally, there will be a meeting of the BMP steering group next week - when all the above questions will be raised:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: to meet on 13th September >>> but exactly what is to be 'modelled'?

 Postscript: this makes for an excellent geography lesson:
Coastal management and conflict in Sidmouth
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