Coastal flood risk management strategy, Pegwell Bay to Kingsdown

Reach 6: Walmer Castle, Kingsdown and Oldstairs BayThis reach comprises thecoastal frontage betweenWalmer Castle and the MoDRifle Range. The frontageconsists of beaches with a seawall at Kingsdown,interspersed by timbergroynes.Behind the coastal defencesthe land rises relatively steeplyand consists predominantly oflow to medium densityresidential development, withagricultural land furtherinland.A long-distance footpath runsalong the northern frontagewithin the reach.Strategic optionDo nothingDo minimumMaintainSustainImproveActionsNo further work will be undertaken on the existing defencesNo pro-active maintenance, but breaches or failures in the existing defenceswill be repaired if they occurBeach recycling combined with replacement of existing timber groynes at the endof their remaining life (about 10 years). Supplemented by shingle when requiredSimilar to maintain option, but repairs to timber groynes will start early in thestrategy and additional shingle will be brought onto the beachA range of improvement options have been considered, including constructionof rock headlands, replacement of existing groynes and beach with rockrevetment, construction of rock groynes and the refurbishment and upgrade ofthe existing seawall at KingsdownMaintain has been selected since this option would prevent erosion and loss of property, and is themost cost-effective and environmentally acceptable solution.Reach 7: MoD Rifle RangeThe MoD Rifle Range consistsof an elevated plateau of fillmaterial in front of chalk cliffs,protected by a concreteseawall.The site and cliffs are subjectStrategic optionDo nothingDo minimumManagedrealignmentActionsto national environmentaldesignations and a footpathruns along the base of the cliffs.There is some uncertaintyabout the nature of the fillmaterial for release into theNo further work will be undertaken on the existing defencescoastal system. The sea wallhas collapsed at one sectionallowing some fill material toseep out.The site is owned by the MoD.Repair of failed sections of the seawall and reactive repairs to further failures.These repairs are likely to consist of steel sheet piled retaining walls or rockarmour infillFollowing a detailed investigation of fill material for contamination andappropriate remediation work, the existing seawall would be removed or left tocollapse allowing the site to return to natural processesManaged realignment has been selected. This would provide the maximum environmental benefit,restoring the coastline towards a more natural process, which would benefit the beaches to thenorth. This option is dependent on further analysis of the site and the availability of funding andintentions of the land owner, who will be responsible for implementation of this option.Environment Agency Pegwell Bay to Kingsdown coastal strategy 13