ICZM 2011 - Coastal Change Pathfinder
In late 2009 the Government awarded £11 million in grants to local authorities who demonstrated the best and most innovative ideas for dealing with and adapting to coastal change. To its delight, Chichester District Council was awarded £450,000 and and became part of the Coastal Change Pathfinder Project. The project began properly in May 2010 and continued until the end of June 2011.
A total of 15 local authorities were successful, each of whom developed their own schemes for working with communities that face the threat of coastal erosion.
See Defra's website for further information about the Coastal Change Pathfinder Projects.
The terms of the grant stated that it could not be used for the direct funding of sea defences. Instead the scheme was about working with local communities, and helping them adapt to coastal erosion. It was about recognising that the shape of our coastline is not fixed; but is subject to constant change which will only increase as our climate changes.
The Manhood Peninsula Partnership, the independent national charity CoastNet and the Manhood Peninsula Steering Group worked with Chichester District Council to deliver the different elements of the project. These were:
- An Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the Peninsula which has been adopted as a material planning consideration by the Local Planning Authority
- A forward thinking Destination Management Plan agreed by business and wildlife /ecological organisations aiming to protect the environment by using it as an economic asset.
- A well subscribed small grants fund to support community projects that raise awareness of the changing coastline.
- Funding to investigate the formation of a community owned coastal trust for Selsey, including comprehensive feasibility studies, with a view to this trust potentially overseeing a series of coastal regeneration projects, owned by the community.
- Improving access and enjoyment of the coast by replacing the Access Ramp at East Beach in Selsey.
- A “Coastal Literacy” Programme led by the independent national charity CoastNet, to produce information materials equipping local people with the knowledge and understanding needed to participate in adaptation decision making.
The Manhood Peninsula Partnership oversaw delivery of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management proposal, the Destination Management Study and the Small Grants Fund.
The Pre-Trust Group worked to investigate the feasibility of a community owned Coastal Trust for Selsey, and of re-instating beach access ramps lost to coastal change.
Details can be found in the following sections of the website: Coastal Change Grant Fund; Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); Destination Management Study; Selsey Pre Trust Group; Beach Access Ramps; Coastal Literacy. More information about the Chichester Coastal Change Pathfinder Project and the history behind it can be found using the following links:
'Local Governement & The Regions' 16 - Ebbing Away From Jargon
'Alarm' article - Embracing Climate Change
'WEM' article - Going It Alone: Bunn Leisure coast protection scheme
For more information concerning coastal matters and legislation explore the Environment Links section of the website.