Archived decisions

Contact: Alan Inder, ext 6759 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 On 13 February 2004 a budget of £138,000 for 2004/05 to fund the capital works programme for coastal improvements was approved. The purpose of this report is to summarise progress on the funded schemes and projects and request support for a capital programme of schemes totalling £142,000 for the year 2005/06.

2. Capital Programme

2.1 The coastal capital programme is a complex rolling programme. Due to the complicated consents procedure at the coast, environmental constraints, partnership funding and national programmes, some projects take a long time to plan and are therefore sometimes required to be carried forward.

2.2 A number of projects that were allocated in previous years' budgets have come to fruition. These include the following:

(i) Manor Farm Country Park (completed)

The County Council contributed £4,000 to the final improvements to the Hoemoor track. This riding and walking route goes through County Council woodland adjacent to the River Hamble. This work also benefited from funding from the Forestry Commission.

(ii) River Hamble east bank footpath improvements (completed)

The footpath along one section of the east bank of the River Hamble was under threat of erosion. £5,500 covered works to maintain the bank to enable the continued use of the footpath.

(iii) Hayling Billy Coastal Path Improvements (completed)

£8,050 funded improvements to the Hayling Billy Coastal Path to enable better access for cyclists and disabled users.

(iv) Botley Quay (committed)

The County Council has provided funding towards work in partnership with Botley Parish Council to improve Botley Quay. £2,000 has been allocated to phase one that has provided a pathway. The remaining works, ie improvements to the slipway and interpretation panels, are waiting for designs and final consents. It is anticipated that the remaining works (£8,000) will be completed this financial year. However, it may be that this is carried over to 2005/06.

3. Capital Programme 2004/05 - Progress Report

3.1 The approved schemes for 2004/05 were divided into three categories and progress on schemes in each category is summarised below.

Coastal Defence Works

3.2 None of the £20,000 carried over from the previous year's budget (2003/04) to cover minor emergency works on County Council sites has been spent, but it might be needed before the winter period is over.

3.3 It is likely that there will be a requirement to employ civil engineers to assess the sea wall at Royal Victoria Country Park. The sheet piling fronting the wall has eroded and several small holes have appeared. In one particular location the movement of the sea through the holes has resulted in the material behind the sheet piling being swept out, which has caused a slump in the bank adjacent to the path on the sea wall, and a large hole is now present, making the area hazardous. Other similar holes may occur if nothing is done to repair the sheet piling. As a precaution this stretch of the sea wall, which had previously been a popular walkway, has been closed to public access. An assessment is required to consider the extent of the problem and to determine short and long term solutions. At present the costs of such a study are unclear and it may be possible for this to be carried out in-house.

3.4 It is requested that, if the assessment can be undertaken in-house or at minimal cost, and provided no other emergency works are required this financial year, the £20,000 be carried forward again to 2005/06 to help fund any emergency works that may arise.

Access and Environmental Improvements

3.5 The main expenditure this financial year has been a contribution to New Forest District Council towards phase 1 improvements to Milford Seafront. The County Council contributed £40,000 towards the total costs of approximately £300,000. The scheme, which commenced in November 2004, includes promenade reconstruction and resurfacing, and improvements to car parks, street furniture and lighting. The works are due for completion in March 2005.

3.6 A total of £60,000 was allocated to schemes under Solent Forum Access and Environmental Improvements Strategy and, together with monies carried forward from previous years (approx £14,000), the County Council has contributed towards the following schemes to assist management of important coastal nature reserves and recreation sites managed by the County Council and schemes in partnership with other organisations:

(i) Hacketts Marsh LNR environmental improvements (completed)

£1,650 funded fencing to control stock to ensure the correct management of the habitats for conservation purposes.

(ii) Interpretation at Lepe Country Park (committed)

£5,000 is allocated for the redesign and production of seven new interpretation boards for displays at Lepe Country Park. It is hoped that this work will be completed this financial year.

(iii) Chichester Harbour (committed)

As part of the Heritage Lottery funded `Rhythms of the Tide' project, County Council has contributed £20,000 towards three specific projects that relate to Hampshire, ie removal of wrecks, solar-powered boat facility at Emsworth and tree planting.

(iv) Interpretation in Langstone Harbour (committed)

The County Council has contributed £3,500 towards the design and production of phase one of Langstone Harbour Interpretation. This is being led by Langstone Harbour Board and the first phase involves a small number of generic boards at strategic locations around the harbour.

(v) Warsash Fishermen's jetty (committed)

This joint £40,000 project is 50% funded through an EU fisheries grant, with the remainder from the County Council. The coastal budget will contribute £10,000 to install a fisherman's landing jetty upstream of Warsash Slipway, which will improve health and safety conditions. The jetty will be used by the small fleet of local fishing boats to land their catch at Warsash. The tendering process has been held up so it is uncertain whether this will be completed this financial year and may be carried over to 2005/06.

3.7 Further projects, such as improvements to the Solent Way in Langstone Harbour and interpretation at Lower Test Marshes, are at the planning stage and it is requested that £34,000 be carried over to allow for completion of these projects (and for others listed above that may need to be carried over).

Studies and Joint Projects

3.8 The County Council allocated £8,000 towards Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) implementation. The Solent Forum has set up a nature conservation sub-group to take forward actions from, inter alia, the Hampshire coastal BAP. The sub-group is planning a number of projects, including: a Wader Roost Strategy that will act as supplementary planning guidance; guidance material to local planning authorities on how to take account of coastal biodiversity in Local Development Frameworks; and an information and data project.

3.9 The sum of £17,000 was allocated to studies related to the work of the Key Area Working Groups (KAWGs) which are progressing the recommendations from the "review of the effects of climate change on Hampshire County Council's coastal landholdings". Four KAWGs have been set up, as follows: Lepe to Calshot; West Hayling Island; Bunny Meadows and Hook-with-Warsash Local Nature Reserve; and Royal Victoria Country Park, which are at various stages of production. A total £2,000 has been used to carry out a survey of the use of the Hayling Billy Coastal Path to feed into the work of the West Hayling KAWG. During the work of the groups it has become apparent that increasing public awareness about the issues and gaining input from stakeholders will be important. As such, £15,000 has been converted to revenue to allow for the production of reports, summary leaflets and running exhibitions. This was agreed at the Executive Member for Policy and Resources budget monitoring meeting on 9 December 2004.

3.10 The revenue funds (2.10) will also be used to part-fund a display and accompanying leaflet on `Hampshire's Coast' which will be used at the International Festival of the Sea (IFOS) in Portsmouth (30 June to 1 July 2005) and also around Hampshire's libraries during the rest of the year to help celebrate `Sea Britain 2005'. The display is a joint venture between the Environment and Recreation and Heritage Departments.

3.11 The sum of £10,000 was allocated towards requests for funding of joint studies and research projects from partner organisations. A project is currently being planned to map, on GIS, coastal landform and habitat changes from 1940 onwards from aerial photographs. This work will be useful for work in relation to the KAWGs, the next round of Shoreline Management Plans, and to raise awareness of coastal change. It is hoped that this will be completed this financial year.

3.12 A further joint study with the Environment Agency and the Hampshire Wildlife Trust will look at the effect of small freshwater flows on coastal habitats. This work has to be carried out in the spring and it is requested that £8,500 be carried forward to 2005/06 to allow for completion of this work.

4. Capital Programme 2005/06

4.1 Proposals for the coastal capital programme for the coming year are grouped under the same three headings with one additional heading:

Coastal Defence Works £35,000

Access and Environmental Improvements £49,000

Studies and Joint Projects £42,000

Fees £16,000

Total £142,000

Coastal Defence Works

4.2 In general it is considered premature to budget for major schemes in the coming year, pending decisions to be made following completion of the work on the review of the effects of climate change on the County Council's coastal landholdings. However, as mentioned earlier, it would be prudent to allocate £20,000 to cover minor emergency works on County Council sites, and it is suggested that this is done by carrying forward the allocation for the current year, if not needed this winter (see paragraph 2.3).

4.3 However, the situation at Royal Victoria Country Park cannot await completion of the review and it is anticipated that some emergency works will be required until a longer term solution can be found. It is therefore requested that £35,000 be allocated to works on the sea wall at Royal Victoria Country Park.

Access and Environmental Improvements

4.4 This is split into two specific sub-categories. The Solent-wide Strategy for Access and Environmental Improvements has been prepared by the Solent Forum on behalf of the local and harbour authorities, and other Forum members, and is now being implemented. A number of improvements are being planned that link into this scheme which might merit a contribution from the County Council. These include:

(i) Langstone Harbour Interpretation: Phase 2 to design and produce detailed interpretation boards at specific locations around the harbour, in partnership with Langstone Harbour Authority.

(ii) Hayling Island Oyster Beds: Possible project to look at interpretation and environmental improvements to tern nesting sites, in partnership with Havant Borough Council.

(iii) Gosport coastal pathway improvements: Creation of a suitable surfaced route from Stokes Bay shoreline towards Fort Gilkicker, in partnership with Gosport Borough Council.

(iv) Interpretation on the west shore of the River Hamble: Projects under the integrated access programme for the Strawberry Trail, including interpretation at key access sites such as Bursledon Station, in partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council.

(v) Access at various locations on the River Hamble: Consideration of improvements to access around the slipway at the Horse and Jockey public house, and consideration of other access improvements.

4.5 Discussions with local councils and other organisations about these schemes are generally at an early stage, and it is too soon to draw conclusions about priorities and to make firm commitments. However, it is envisaged that assisting such schemes will form a major priority for the coastal capital programme in the coming year. An allocation of £25,000 would enable valuable contributions to be made to some of these. In addition officers will ask partners to suggest any further projects based on a set of criteria.

4.6 The second sub-category is allocated for access and environmental improvements on County Council coastal sites, such as Lymington Coastal Reserve, Lepe Country Park, Royal Victoria Country Park, Manor Farm Country Park, Titchfield Haven and Hayling Island. Possible projects include:

(i) Lepe discovery trail: A trail will be developed around the park to enable visitors to learn about different aspects of the site, its management and the environment.

(ii) Lymington/Keyhaven disabled access: Improvements to part of the sea wall to enable the pathway to be improved for disabled access. Additional funding will also be sought from the Environment Agency.

(iii) Improvements to Moses Dock, Lymington/Keyhaven: There is currently no access across Moses Dock, and so visitors are required to make a detour inland using a path that is hazardous under certain conditions. It is suggested that it is investigated whether Moses Dock, which is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, can be altered/replaced in a way that allows a path across. This is a popular pathway and improvements would be welcomed by local users.

(iv) East bank footpath works, Hamble: Recent surveys of the footpath indicate that various sections of the pathway are at risk of erosion. Works may be required to maintain the embankment to protect the pathway and to resurface where necessary. This is a popular pathway and improvements would be welcomed by local users.

4.7 Internal discussions about these schemes are generally at an early stage, and it is too soon to draw conclusions about priorities and to make firm commitments. It is envisaged that assisting such schemes will form a major priority for the coastal capital programme in the coming year. An allocation of £24,000 would enable valuable contributions to be made to some of these.

Studies and Joint Projects

4.8 The work on Key Area Working Groups will continue into 2005/06 and in addition two further groups will be formed, ie Lymington/Keyhaven Coastal Nature Reserve and Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. It is therefore requested that a further £12,000 be allocated to this work for surveys, eg Lepe Country Park.

4.9 It is suggested that the annual £8,000 contribution to the coastal BAP implementation be continued in 2005/06 to allow for the implementation of projects already planned and further BAP projects.

4.10 Many projects have been funded through the coastal capital budget over the last ten years; it is therefore proposed that an illustrated leaflet be produced to promote the success of these projects to demonstrate what has been achieved for Hampshire. It is suggested that the audience would be Members, their coastal constituents and other key organisations. It is requested that £5,000 be allocated to the production of this report.

4.11 It is requested that the County Council contribute £5,000 per year for a period of three years as a set-up grant to the Chichester Harbour Trust to help with conservation projects around Chichester Harbour and the acquisition of land for conservation and recreation purposes. The landscape of Chichester Harbour is important in terms of the views it provides from Hayling Island.

4.12 During every year requests are received from various authorities and agencies for the County Council to consider making contributions towards preparing non-statutory plans or joint studies or projects in the coastal zone. Whilst it is not possible to predict at this stage what requests will come forward it would be prudent to make an allocation in the budget of around £10,000 for such purposes.

Fee Costs

4.13 It is proposed that, as is the case with other capital programmes, provision be made for capitalising as fees the cost of staff time relating to the design, supervision and management of the programme and an allocation of £16,000 for fee costs is proposed.

Recommendation

That, subject to the approval of the budget by the County Council, £142,000 be allocated to fund the capital programme for coastal schemes and projects in 2005/06.

9157Rpt/AI