Motion - Government support requested for financial contributions from utility companies to flood and coastal protection schemes
‘This Council is leading and coordinating coastal protection schemes in Sidmouth, Exmouth and Seaton. There is an expectation, based on current funding models, for significant amounts of partnership funding to be raised. An example of this is the circa. £13 million project for Sidmouth which has identified £3 million of partnership funding to be raised before the scheme can progress.
This necessary work will protect not just homes and businesses but also important infrastructure and utilities. In Sidmouth, for example, the SWW infrastructure and other utilities will be protected from the incursion of the sea and erosion when the scheme is delivered.
It seems fair and reasonable that all utility companies contribute towards the cost of coastal and flood protection works.
Therefore, I ask Council to support the motion that ‘The Government ensures that where assets and infrastructure will be protected by a flood and coastal protection scheme all utility companies are required to make a proportionate and appropriate mandatory level of financial contribution towards that scheme. ‘
Proposed by; Cllr Stuart Hughes
Seconded by; Cllr David Barratt
Supported by Cllrs Phil Twiss, Ian Hall, Colin Brown, Jenny Brown, John Dyson and Iain Chubb.
Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 24th April, 2019, 6.00 pm - East Devon
This was reported on last week:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: pressure on utility companies to contribute to costs
Meanwhile, there have been further cliff-falls which provide further urgency for some action to be taken to slow down the erosion.
The question is still whether that action should be the 'preferred option' being pushed by the District Council - against the wishes of the Sidmouth stakeholders on the Beach Management Plan steering group:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: breakwaters rather than groins/groynes
Devon Live reports:
'Don't sit underneath cliffs' plea from council after more landslides at Sidmouth beaches over the Bank Holiday weekend
"The cliffs pose a very real danger and caution must be exercised"
1COMMENT
Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporter
17:13, 23 APR 2019
Beachgoers are being warned not to sit under cliffs after a number of cliff falls and landslides at Sidmouth over the Bank Holiday weekend. Rubble crashed to the ground down at Jacob’s Ladder beach on Easter Sunday, in full view of hundreds of sun seekers.
At the other end of the seafront, on the precarious East Beach, there was a massive landslide that saw rubble crash down and block off a cave that was opened up following a previous cliff fall.
17:13, 23 APR 2019
Beachgoers are being warned not to sit under cliffs after a number of cliff falls and landslides at Sidmouth over the Bank Holiday weekend. Rubble crashed to the ground down at Jacob’s Ladder beach on Easter Sunday, in full view of hundreds of sun seekers.
At the other end of the seafront, on the precarious East Beach, there was a massive landslide that saw rubble crash down and block off a cave that was opened up following a previous cliff fall.
East Devon District Council are again warning members of the public that the cliffs pose a very real danger and caution must be exercised when visiting them and the beach, and not to ignore warning signs.
A spokesman said: “Jacobs Ladder beach, in common with many other beaches along our coast, sits below cliffs that are a key part of the scenery which attracts visitors to the area and the wider Jurassic Coast.
“However, the cliffs pose a very real danger and caution must be exercised when visiting them. Rockfalls and landslides are unpredictable events, occurring without warning, and can cause serious injury or death. Warning signs can often be found in areas managed by us (as there is at East Beach), but the absence of a sign does not indicate there is no risk and you should always take care around the cliffs of East Devon, as they are all made of soft rock and pose a cliff fall danger.
"We therefore recommend that where possible, you enjoy the cliffs from a distance and do not climb or sit directly beneath them. The Coastguard advises that beach users stay at least the height of the cliff away. For example, if a cliff is 20 metres high, a distance of 20 metres should be kept, a comprehensive guide to staying safe around beaches and cliffs is available from the Coastguard.”
Lifeboat Crew member Guy Russell, who also runs Jurassic Paddle Sports, added on Facebook: “It is the same message, whether it comes down to East Beach, Jacobs Ladder or down in Dorset people have to take a second to think. I cannot stress enough the dangers of going to East Beach, where people walk down and sit with their books or play with their kids.”
A proposed beach management scheme has been worked up that aims to reduce the risk of flooding to Sidmouth by maintaining the standard of defences along Sidmouth Beach, and to reduce the rate of erosion to the cliffs. The proposed scheme will see a groyne will help keep shingle from being moved eastwards away from the vulnerable cliffs and the higher splash wall will capture water coming over the sea wall to prevent flooding in the town centre, but is still around £2m short of being fully funded.
On Wednesday night, East Devon District Council will discuss a motion calling on the Government to request electric, gas, telephone and water companies to be mandated to contribute to coastal protection schemes, where they will benefit from them.
It has been put forward by Cllr Stuart Hughes as in Sidmouth, South West Water infrastructure will be protected if the scheme is built, but they have not contributed financially to the near £9m scheme. The scheme will cost £8.9m, with around £3m of funding needs to be provided locally. £500,000 of this will be provided by East Devon District Council, with £500,000 set to be committed by Devon County Council and £100,000 from Sidmouth town council, meaning a further £2.4m needs to be found.
Option 1 - The preferred option that the beach management plan for Sidmouth has identified is to construct one or two new rock groynes along East Beach over a distance of up to 200m east of the River Sid and to modify the length of the seaward end of the River Sid training wall and East Pier rock groyne to improve sediment transport between Sidmouth Town Beach and East Beach. This would be supported by importing new shingle and moving shingle along the beach as required.
Cllr Hughes said: “I have put forward a notice of motion re request to Government to put into place the requirement for all utility companies to contribute towards coastal protection flood defence schemes. The shortfall for a scheme at Sidmouth would be impossible to find locally.
“Utilities services will be protected by such works. However at present they don’t have to contribute and I don’t recall seeing any scheme that’s gone ahead receiving funding from either the electric, gas, or telephone companies. Water companies don’t always contribute and as far as Sidmouth is concerned. They haven’t come to the party with any promise of financial contribution.
“This necessary work will protect not just homes and businesses but also important infrastructure and utilities. In Sidmouth, for example, the South West Water infrastructure and other utilities will be protected from the incursion of the sea and erosion when the scheme is delivered. It seems fair and reasonable that all utility companies contribute towards the cost of coastal and flood protection works. Hopefully the council will support the motion.”
The Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme is currently being delayed until the funding becomes available. It had previously been hoped that work could have begun in 2019, subject to planning constraints being met.
Coastal protection schemes are also being worked up by East Devon in Exmouth and Seaton, as well as Sidmouth.
The motion will be discussed at the full council meeting on Wednesday night.
Option 1 - The preferred option that the beach management plan for Sidmouth has identified is to construct one or two new rock groynes along East Beach over a distance of up to 200m east of the River Sid and to modify the length of the seaward end of the River Sid training wall and East Pier rock groyne to improve sediment transport between Sidmouth Town Beach and East Beach. This would be supported by importing new shingle and moving shingle along the beach as required.Cllr Hughes said: “I have put forward a notice of motion re request to Government to put into place the requirement for all utility companies to contribute towards coastal protection flood defence schemes. The shortfall for a scheme at Sidmouth would be impossible to find locally.
“Utilities services will be protected by such works. However at present they don’t have to contribute and I don’t recall seeing any scheme that’s gone ahead receiving funding from either the electric, gas, or telephone companies. Water companies don’t always contribute and as far as Sidmouth is concerned. They haven’t come to the party with any promise of financial contribution.
“This necessary work will protect not just homes and businesses but also important infrastructure and utilities. In Sidmouth, for example, the South West Water infrastructure and other utilities will be protected from the incursion of the sea and erosion when the scheme is delivered. It seems fair and reasonable that all utility companies contribute towards the cost of coastal and flood protection works. Hopefully the council will support the motion.”
The Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme is currently being delayed until the funding becomes available. It had previously been hoped that work could have begun in 2019, subject to planning constraints being met.
Coastal protection schemes are also being worked up by East Devon in Exmouth and Seaton, as well as Sidmouth.
The motion will be discussed at the full council meeting on Wednesday night.
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