Contact: Alan Inder, ext 6759

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That, subject to the approval of the budget by the County Council, £133,000 be allocated to fund the capital programme for coastal schemes and projects in 2002/03.

2. Reason

2.1 To fund a range of continuing or new projects for the purposes of coastal conservation and for access and environmental improvements, both on County Council land and elsewhere in partnership with others.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected - Not applicable.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: .................................... Date: ...................................

Councillor T K Thornber

7. Introduction

7.1. On 16 February 2001 the former Community Development and Conservation Sub-Committee approved a budget of £134,000 for 2001/02 to fund the capital works programme for coastal improvements. The purpose of this report is to summarise progress on the approved projects and request support for a capital programme of schemes totalling £133,000 for the year 2002/03.

8. Capital Programme 2001/02 - Progress Report

8.1 When the former Community Development and Conservation Sub-Committee supported the allocation of £134,000 to fund the coastal capital works programme in 2001/02, it approved a schedule of proposed works for protecting and enhancing Hampshire's coast. Progress on implementing the programme of works is outlined below. Most of the schemes and projects in the schedule have been completed, or are likely to be completed in the next few months; however, a small number have had to be deferred. The schedule of schemes falls into three categories:

(i) coastal defence works;

(ii) environmental and access improvements; and

(iii) studies and joint projects.

Each is now considered in turn.

Coastal Defence Works

8.2 A scheme to carry out repairs to the sea-wall at the Royal Victoria Country Park was carried out last summer. Money saved by prudent planning and design of the scheme was used mainly on the `Hampshire's Coast' publication and partly as a grant to Hill Head Sailing Club towards the repair of the sea-wall at Hill Head Harbour (approved in July 2001). Also, last summer short-term measures were carried out to protect sections of the sea-wall at Hayling Billy Coastal Path that had been badly eroded the previous winter.

8.3 The proposed scheme to repair the north quay wall at Calshot Activities Centre has been deferred pending the outcome of the West Solent Coastal Defence Strategy, due to be completed by the end of 2002. The assessment of the sea-wall and water level problems at Emsworth Mill Pond has shown that the main need is to improve and automate the tidal flap and penstock, allowing for remote operation. A joint scheme with Havant Borough Council is to be implemented in the next few months.

Environmental and Access Improvements

8.4 Last year, Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve celebrated 25 years of being open to the public, and the coastal capital programme helped to fund new interpretation panels, access to a new bird-watching hide and the provision of a children's trail. Repairs to the riding route in Manor Farm Country Park were completed, and refencing, path management and interpretation works at West Wood (Netley) are planned to be completed by the end of March.

8.5 The programme has also funded repairs to and waymarking of the Langstone Harbour shoreline path, and the publication of the Langstone Harbour Waterside Walk leaflet, a joint venture with the Harbour Board and Havant Borough Council. As part of the Sustainable Suburbs initiative, the programme will help fund improved signage on the seafront at Lee-on-the-Solent in a joint scheme with Gosport Borough Council.

8.6 During the year, savings in the budget have enabled four additional minor schemes to be funded in the next few months:

(i) a joint scheme with Fareham Borough Council to extend the coastal path at Hill Head and provide seating;

(ii) a joint scheme with Havant Borough Council to provide a more direct route for the Solent Way from Harts Farm Way to Brockhampton Creek;

(iii) a scheme to improve the appearance of Beachlands Pumping Station within the Sinah Common Site of Special Scientific Interest; and

(iv) provision of ramps and handrails to enable access for wheelchairs at both ends of the sea-wall path at Meon Shore, to the west of Hill Head Harbour.

Studies and Joint Projects

8.7 One of the major projects of the past year has been the Review of the Effects of Climate Change on the County Council's coastal landholdings and other interests, such as highways and rights of way. Consultation on the draft report is now being carried out with the statutory agencies, seeking their comments on principles and advice on priorities. The outcome of this consultation will be reported to the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee. At that time authority will also be sought to carry out wider consultation.

8.8 The coastal budget funded the plotting on the County Council's Geographic Information System of the position of the historic coastline as depicted on Ordnance Survey maps and Admiralty Charts over the past two centuries. This low-cost project has helped to give a better understanding of how the coastline has changed.

8.9 Good progress has been made towards preparation of the management scheme for the Solent European Marine Sites. Failure to obtain funding from the European Union has caused a delay in starting the Saltmarsh project, but the partners in the Solent region intend to proceed with more limited objectives. The County Council is still involved in the EC-funded project for the conservation and management of saline lagoons, but the practical works scheduled in the coastal programme to assist the conservation of the lagoons on the Lymington-Keyhaven Coastal Nature Reserve have been deferred until next spring/summer.

9. Capital Programme 2002/03

9.1 Proposals for the coastal capital programme for the coming year are grouped under the same headings. The proposed expenditure for each category is:

Coastal Defence Works £20,000

Access and Environmental Improvements £80,000

Studies and Joint Projects £33,000

Total £133,000

Coastal Defence Works

9.2 The Review of the Effects of Climate Change on the County Council's coastal landholdings is likely to suggest a fairly fundamental shift in policy concerning the protection of the County Council's land by recommending in some areas a move away from `hold the line' to `do nothing' or even `managed retreat'. Therefore, it is considered premature to budget for any major schemes in the coming year. However, it would be prudent to allocate approximately £20,000 to cover the costs of any special studies required for areas identified as priority for action, eg West Hayling.

Access and Environmental Improvements

9.3 At the County Council's popular outdoor activities centre at Calshot there is a slipway that is heavily used not only by the Centre but also the general public. It is also used by the RNLI for launching lifeboats. In recent years the condition of the slipway has deteriorated markedly, in spite of regular repairs. It is considered now that it would be more cost-effective in the long term to reconstruct the slipway robustly, to give it a long life without the need for almost annual patch-and-mend repairs. This will require capital expenditure of about £130,000. It is considered that if matching expenditure can be found by the Centre from its own resources and other sources such as the RNLI, and if the expenditure can be spread over two financial years, it would be appropriate for the coastal capital programme to contribute 50%. This could be through allocating £35,000 in 2002/03 and £30,000 the following year.

9.4 Making a relatively large allocation for Calshot would limit the opportunities for funding schemes on other County Council sites or rights of way, but it is suggested that £15,000 be allocated for repairs to the public footpath along the north side of Eastoke Creek (Havant Footpath 103 on Hayling Island), and for the final phase of access improvements at Manor Farm Country Park.

9.5 Although the Solent-wide Strategy for Access and Environmental Improvements, which is being prepared by the Solent Forum, is not due to be completed until towards the end of 2002, the work carried out so far shows that there are a number of improvements being planned by the borough and district councils, and some harbour authorities and private and voluntary sector bodies, that might merit a contribution from the County Council. Although this may not have a major bearing on the coastal capital programme until 2003/04, it is suggested that approximately £30,000 be allocated this coming year to projects in support of access and environmental improvements on the County Council's own estate or in partnership with the borough or district councils, or the private or voluntary sectors.

Studies and Joint Projects

9.6 In the current year the County Council made a vital contribution of £8,000 to the Solent European Marine Sites project; a similar contribution will be needed in the coming year to facilitate the preparation of the management scheme (a statutory requirement), due for completion by December 2003, and to establish a coordinated monitoring regime. This management scheme will help the County Council to meet its statutory obligations under the Habitats Regulations as a major local authority. As harbour authority for the River Hamble the County Council has additional special obligations to ensure compliance with the Habitats Regulations, obligations that will be delivered through the preparation and implementation of an estuary management plan (EMP). An allocation of £7,000 is needed to assist in the completion of the EMP.

9.7 As mentioned in paragraph 8.9, the delayed Saltmarsh project is to proceed with more limited objectives. It is still intended to combine research into the extent and causes of saltmarsh erosion with practical trials to prevent erosion and test alternative techniques for saltmarsh restoration or creation. Although money already collected can be carried forward, a further allocation of £5,000 is needed to fulfil the project's objectives.

9.8 Similarly, in order to carry out practical works to help conserve the lagoons between Keyhaven and Lymington, in line with the recommendations of the EC-funded project, a further allocation of at least £7,000 will be necessary (in addition to money being carried forward). These works will include altering sea-wall sluices, effecting drainage changes and excavating wildlife refuges to maintain and enhance the conservation value of this internationally important habitat.

9.9 Finally, at least £6,000 will be needed for a range of measures to implement the recently completed Biodiversity Action Plan for Coastal Habitats with partners including English Nature, the Environment Agency, and borough and district councils.

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