Medmerry

• Why was the scheme important?

  • Environmental Agency (EA) considered area west of Selsey to be area of SE England to be most at risk of flooding
  • Shingle Ridge beach was the only protection.
  • Beach Reprofiling since 1990s cost £200,000 annually ; if breached, 348 properties, water-treatment plant and main road between Chichester and Selsey would be flooded
  • Last breach in 2008 cost £8million damage
• Managed retreat began in 2011 finished in 2014
• • new embankment 2km inland using local clay - enclosed future intertidal area
• • channel built behind embankment to collect draining water
• • 60,000 tonnes of rock from Norway for rock armour
• • 110m breach in shingle bank to allow sea to flood the land and create intertidal area
• Positive effects: Social

  • 1 in 1000 chance of flooding
  • 10km footpath, 7m cycle route, 5km bridleway
• Positive effects: Environmental

  • protect existing species, water voles, crested newts, badgers
  • 300Ha new intertidal habitats e.g. salt marsh, mud flats
  • RSPB nature reserve
• Positive effects: Economic

  • Green Tourism expected to increase
  • 2 new car parks
  • 4 viewing points
  • Holiday village numbers increase
  • fishing
• Controversy: Economic

  • £28million scheme was very expensive
• Controversy: Economic

  • £28million scheme was very expensive
  • 3 farms growing oilseed rape, winter wheat had to be abandoned
• Controversy: Environmental

  • habitats of existing species was disturbed