Selsey residents urged to shape future of coastal defences as consultation deadline approaches
Residents in Selsey are being urged to share their views on plans to manage coastal flooding and erosion, as consultation on the proposed Selsey Coastal Scheme approaches its deadline.
The scheme, being developed by Chichester District Council’s coastal engineering team at Coastal Partners, aims to manage flood and erosion risks along approximately 4.5 kilometres of coastline and improve protection for around 3,900 properties over the next 100 years.
The leading option involves installing sloping sea defences, known as a revetment, alongside raising sections of the existing seawall where necessary to accommodate and integrate the new structures.
Additional measures would be tailored to different sections of the coastline and could include groynes, which help retain beach material, and ongoing beach management. Set-back defences are also proposed in locations where sufficient space is available, potentially reducing the height of new coastal structures.
A series of public drop-in sessions took place at Selsey Town Hall on Thursday, October 15, Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17.
The sessions gave local people the opportunity to learn more about the options being considered and discuss the future of the town’s coastline.
"This is a significant scheme that will help protect thousands of residents and businesses in the area - if action isn't taken then the risks will keep on increasing and threaten even more homes in the future," said Councillor Jonathan Brown, Cabinet Member for Environmental Strategy at Chichester District Council.
"The Selsey coastline has been divided into seven specific areas, or management units to reflect differing coastal processes, constraints and defence requirements for each of those sections.
"We feel that the options put forward by Coastal Partners provide a robust approach to managing future coastal change and represent an essential step towards securing a more resilient future for Selsey.
"I would like to thank everyone so far who has contributed their views as part of the community engagement activities that have been taking place since last year and who has been involved in helping to develop this key infrastructure project."
For residents who were unable to attend the drop-in sessions, exhibition materials are available online, providing further information about the proposals and the work being carried out to develop a long-term approach to coastal flood and erosion risk management.
Residents are being encouraged to review the information and submit their feedback before the consultation closes on Saturday, October 31.
The exhibition materials can be viewed at this link , while feedback can be submitted through the online consultation survey .