Environment Agency To Take Action Against Chichester Coastal Flooding

Chichester District Council’s engagement with the Environment Agency has ‘intensified’ since recent coastal flooding hit the area.

Medmerry Holiday Park and the Bracklesham Caravan and Boat Club were evacuated earlier this month during Storm Kathleen when gale-force winds, rain and high tides led to flooding.

During a meeting of the cabinet, concerns were raised about the state of the groynes and coastal defence bank which runs from Medmerry to the east of Bracklesham Drive.

Former district councillor Simon Oakley wondered about the flooding risk to homes in that area.

Jonathan Brown, cabinet member for environmental strategy, said the council and its coastal service, Coastal Partners, had been working closely with the Environment Agency over the past couple of years on all matters associated with managing those risks.

He added:

“These interactions have unsurprisingly intensified with the recent flooding, and the Environment Agency have begun re-profiling the beach, which should lead to a reduction of the risk of a recurrence of the recent flooding.”

Re-profiling essentially means that the beach is reshaped by moving material such as sediment into the eroded areas.

Mr Brown told the meeting that the flooding of the caravan parks involved tidal levels that were similar or exceeded the highest ever recorded in the area.

He said they were ‘a stern reminder of the risks associated with the coast’.

He added:

“The beach in front of the caravan parks is managed by the Environment Agency, but the beach is up-drift of the section of foreshore managed by the district council and thus impacts our management and so it is essential that we continue to communicate regularly with them.

“When we identified erosion to the west of the Medmerry rock arm, the council began more specific engagement with the Environment Agency over the past couple of years, and remain abreast of their monitoring, thinking and proposals.

“The focus for our coastal service is to ensure flood and coastal erosion risk is effectively managed, and to ascertain the potential impact any decision or works will have on adjacent frontages.”