Coastal flood risk management strategy, Pegwell Bay to Kingsdown

introductionThe Environment Agency andDover District Council areworking together to develop astrategy to manage coastalflooding and erosion betweenPegwell Bay and the MoD RifleRange at Oldstairs Bay. Thestrategy will also look at tidalflooding in the River Stourdownstream of Fordwich. Theresult will be the Pegwell Bay toKingsdown coastal strategy.This new strategy will developthe flood management policiesset out in the Isle of Grain toSouth Foreland shorelinemanagement plan and theRiver Stour catchment floodmanagement plan.With the climate changing, sealevels rising and increasedfrequency and intensity ofstorms, our existing coastaldefences are under increasingthreat from the elements. Thisconsultation document sets outthe options for the strategy tomanage the area’s coastal andtidal river defences over thenext 100 years.The Environment Agency andDover District Council havepowers to construct flooddefences for the protection ofpeople and property wherethese are economically justifiedand government funds areavailable. The amount offunding available from centralgovernment is limited and thereis strong competition for thesefunds from around the country.The Environment Agency alsohas a legal obligation to protectendangered habitats such asinter-tidal salt marsh andmudflats that form part of anetwork of internationallydesignated sites. These areconsidered to be at risk fromrising sea levels and wheresections are lost compensatoryareas will have to be provided.This document introduces thekey issues we need to addressin the strategy and outlines theleading options. It has beenprepared as part of the publicconsultation on the strategyand you are invited tocomment. Details on how tocontact us are provided on theinside back cover.Environment Agency Pegwell Bay to Kingsdown coastal strategy 3