Contact: Rachael Bayliss, ext 6925 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 On 7 March 2006 the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approved a budget of £146,000 for 2006/07 to fund the capital works programme for coastal improvements. The purpose of this report is to summarise progress on the funded schemes and projects and propose a capital programme of schemes totalling £147,000 for the year 2007/08.

1.2 Funding a range of continuing or new projects for the purposes of coastal conservation and for access and environmental improvements on County Council land, and elsewhere in partnership with others, maximises wellbeing and enhances quality of place.

2. Capital Programme 2006/07 - Progress Report

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. A number of reported projects originally allocated in budgets prior to 2006/07 have come to fruition this year, together with projects allocated in the 2006/07 budget that have been completed. Some projects are requested to be carried forward into 2007/08.

2.2 The approved schemes for 2006/07 were divided into three main categories and progress on these schemes is summarised.

3. Coastal Defence Works 2006/07

3.1 Further work has been carried out at Royal Victoria Country Park in connection with the sea wall. The sheet piling fronting the wall had eroded and several small holes had appeared. In one particular location the movement of the sea through the holes had resulted in the material behind the sheet piling being swept out, which caused a slump in the bank adjacent to the path on the sea wall, making the area hazardous. As a precaution, the sea wall was closed to the public and safety fencing was erected to prevent access. Halcrow was contracted to consider the benefit/cost of the short and long term options. Civil engineers were also contracted to carry out detailed site investigations and to determine and cost the best short-term solution. Three short-term options were considered which would allow the footpath to be reopened and extend the life of the defences for three years. As further funds will be required for a more permanent solution in subsequent years the cheapest option was implemented. Previous years' unspent budget had been held in reserve for the repair works and further funds were allocated in 2006/07.

The works included the following:

(i) survey to determine the exact location of voids behind the seawall;

(ii) repair works to fill the major voids; and

(iii) railings added to the top of the seawall as a safety measure.

3.2 The works were completed in September 2006 and the footpath has been reopened. Monthly visual inspections will be carried out to identify any additional problems in the future. An information board will be placed at either end of the seawall to explain issues in relation to the monitoring and the future of the sea wall. The repairs link to the work of the Royal Victoria Country Park Key Area Working Group which is covered in paragraphs 5.2, 7.1 and Appendix 4.

3.3 Part of the sea wall at Langstone Quay (adjacent to the Ship Inn and the public slipway) is in a poor state of repair. Further inspection is recommended to see whether immediate works or ongoing monitoring is required. It was hoped that the inspection would be carried out in 2006/07, but this will not be possible until spring 2007 to avoid disturbance to the internationally important waders and wildlife that over winter in the Solent, therefore it is requested that this project is carried forward to 2007/08.

3.4 It is requested that the remaining funds (£4,000) in this budget be carried forward to help fund any emergency works that are identified during 2007/08.

4. Access and Environmental Improvements 2006/07

4.1 Phase 1 of the `Around the Solent' project (Solent Forum's Access and Environmental Improvements Strategy) has resulted in the production of access and audience development plans and interpretation strategies which will guide projects on local visitor sites and attractions. Funds allocated to schemes under the `Around the Solent' project, together with funds carried forward from previous years' budgets, have contributed towards a number of schemes to assist management of important coastal nature reserves and recreation sites managed by the County Council and schemes in partnership with other organisations. These are listed in Appendix 1.

4.2 A number of projects take time to come to fruition and it is requested that these committed projects are carried forward to 2007/08. These are listed in Appendix 2.

5. Studies and Joint Projects 2006/07

5.1 The County Council is one of several organisations that have funded the Solent Forum to implement the coastal Biodiversity Action Plan and Solent European Marine Sites Management Scheme. Three specific studies have also been completed or are underway, and these are listed in Appendix 3.

5.2 The sum of £20,000 was allocated to studies related to the work of the Working Groups which are progressing the recommendations from the review of the effects of climate change on Hampshire County Council's coastal landholdings. Four Working Groups have been set up: Lepe to Calshot; West Hayling Island; Bunny Meadows and Hook-with-Warsash Local Nature Reserve; and Royal Victoria Country Park. It was originally hoped that work on all the Working Groups could be completed by mid-2005 and the overall intention is that the outcomes of the work will feed into the next round of Shoreline Management Plans (SMP2). Work on the Working Groups has taken longer than anticipated, as a number of key issues have arisen that need further study and discussion before they can be resolved. However as the SMP2 process commenced later than expected (autumn 2006) there is still time for the work of the Working Groups to feed into the process. Progress on the four Working Groups is summarised in Appendix 4. Specific work has included the following (some aspects of which have been funded through the coastal defence budget as reported in Section 3):

(i) Halcrow appraisal of options for the seawall at Royal Victoria Country Park (funded through the Coastal Defence budget, see paragraph 3.1) and the footpath at Bunny Meadows;

(ii) repair works (funded through the Coastal Defence budget, see paragraph 3.1) and consultancy fees for Royal Victoria Country Park;

(iii) analysis of historic aerial photography for Langstone Harbour and Bunny Meadows;

(iv) a visitor survey carried out by Southampton Solent University at Bunny Meadows. The survey will help determine the usage of the pathway by walkers and cyclists including range of influence, user expectations, issues of concern, awareness of users and future management of the pathway. This will help value the asset and enable the County Council to assess benefit/costs of defending the footpath;

(v) two seminars for Members to consider the key issues in relation to the four areas held in February and September 2006; and

(vi) a Strategy for Lepe Country Park being prepared but unlikely to be completed this financial year.

5.3 Funds are requested to be carried forward to enable further work to be progressed in the Working Groups as outlined in Appendix 4 and mentioned in paragraph 9.2.

5.4 Funds allocated to other studies and joint projects have contributed towards a number of County Council and partnership projects aimed at improving the knowledge base which in turn will assist management of sites. These are listed in Appendix 5 and those to be carried forward to 2007/08 are listed in Appendix 6.

6. Capital Programme 2007/08

6.1 Proposals for the coastal capital programme for the coming year are grouped under the same headings as 2006/07:

Coastal Defence Works £88,000

Access and Environmental Improvements £27,000

Studies and Joint Projects £15,100

Fees £14,900

Total £147,000

These are summarised in Appendix 7.

7. Coastal Defence Works 2007/08

7.1 As discussed in paragraph 3.1, the seawall at Royal Victoria Country Park will be inspected at regular intervals to check for any further signs of deterioration. Funds are therefore required during 2007/08 and 2008/09 for this monitoring and any potential minor repairs. Therefore £8,000 in total is requested to fund monitoring over these two years.

7.2 The North Quay wall at Calshot has begun to topple into the sea due to poor construction, age, vehicle movements and water pressure from the landward side. If the wall fails this would result in the rapid loss of further material, leading to the undermining of the electrical sub-station and underground cables supplying the Centre, Coastguard Tower, Castle, RNLI station, and ABP Port Radar. It will also render the quay, used by commercial fishermen, inoperable. A small area has been repaired, but replacement of the whole seawall is now necessary. Further investigation is currently underway to determine technical, economic and environmental feasibility. It is anticipated that the costs will be in the region of £75,000 based on previous estimates. It is considered that costs of this order can be justified as the seawall protects a number of assets. It is therefore requested that £75,000 is allocated in 2007/08 for this work. It is also worth noting that further works may be required in the future in order to protect other sections of the spit that are eroding and these will be investigated further through the Working Group during 2007/08.

7.3 A further £5,000 is requested for possible emergency works on County Council sites. Further funds may be requested in future years depending on the results of the work currently being carried out by the Working Groups at Lepe Country Park and Calshot, Royal Victoria Country Park, Bunny Meadows and the Hayling Billy Coastal Path.

8. Access and Environmental Improvements 2007/08

8.1 Funds (£15,000) are requested for projects on County Council coastal sites that help improve access or the environment. These are summarised in Appendix 7.

8.2 Funds (£10,000) are requested towards County Council projects that will form part of the `Around the Solent' Heritage Lottery project being led by the Solent Forum.

8.3 Funds (£2,000) are requested that will take forward any additional work that is identified in the coastal access audit.

9. Joint Studies and Projects 2007/08

9.1 Funds (£5,100) are requested to continue to contribute towards the funding of the work of the Solent Forum Nature Conservation group (to take forward the coastal Biodiversity Action Plan actions) and the Solent European Marine Site secretariat (to monitor/administer the implementation of the Management Scheme). In addition funds (£5,000) are also requested to contribute towards the funding of the Chichester Harbour Trust for the third and final year. A small allocation (£5,000) is required to cover requests for funding for other joint studies and projects during 2007/08.

9.2 Work on the Working Groups will also be progressed under Joint Studies and Projects during 2007/08, although this will be covered by funds carried forward from 2006/07 (see paragraph 5.3 and Appendix 4).

10. Impact Assessments

10.1 The funding will not compromise the County Council's policy on race and equalities. Projects and schemes undertaken through the coastal capital programme will be designed to cater for disabled people.

Recommendation

That, subject to Council's decision on the overall budget for 2007/08, the capital programme for coastal schemes and projects in 2007/08 be agreed as follows:

Coastal Defence Works £88,000

Access and Environmental Improvements £27,000

Studies and Joint Projects £15,100

Fees £16,900

Total £147,000

1170Rpt/RB

APPENDIX 1

Access and Environmental Improvement projects completed 2006/07

APPENDIX 2

Access and Environmental Improvement projects carried forward 2007/08

APPENDIX 3

Studies and Joint Projects (Biodiversity Action Plan) to be completed 2006/07

APPENDIX 4

Summary of Progress on Key Area Working Group and Further Work Planned for 2007/08

(i) Lepe to Calshot (including Lepe Country Park and Calshot Activities Centre)

· The recommendations of the Group are to `hold the line' in the immediate future to enable studies to be undertaken to determine the longer term solution, which could include consideration of more options for some areas, eg abandonment of the foreshore car park and facilities at the Country Park; managed realignment at Stansore Point and Stanswood Bay; and severance of the road west of Lepe Country Park. No consultation has taken place with the general public, although consultation did take place over the issues and options paper with local County, district and parish councillors, Calshot Association, landowners and utilities companies. Discussions have also been taking place with Cadland Estate in relation to the renewal of County Council's lease.

· Work during 2006/07 has included initial discussions regarding the long-term strategy for the Country Park (led by the Recreation and Heritage Department), which is considering the provision of a replacement visitor centre with enhanced facilities in a more sustainable location. Also, the feasibility of managed realignment options has been considered through the Rural Pathfinder project.

· During 2007/08 work in relation to the Lepe Country Park Long Term Strategy will be ongoing. In addition short term solutions will be discussed further internally, with key external organisations and through the Coastal Defence Strategy. It is likely that further planning and investigation will be necessary before any long term works are implemented. Funds may be required for emergency repairs during 2007/08. Design and implementation of the North Quay seawall and other sections at Calshot will also be ongoing during 2007/08.

(ii) West Hayling (including the Hayling Billy Coastal Path and adjacent fields)

· An Issues and Options report and public consultation that took place during 2005/06 together with a visitor survey to determine local people's opinions on the future of the footpath.

· A strategy will be completed in 2006/07 outlining the County Council's preferred options. Further consultation will be carried out and endorsement sought from Members.

· During 2007/08 further planning and investigation will be necessary to consider managed realignment at Stoke Common and the creation of an additional footpath along several sections to allow for future erosion. It is not anticipated that funds will be required for actual works during 2007/08, but funds may be requested in future years from the coastal capital programme.

(iii) Royal Victoria Country Park

· An Issues and Options report was produced during 2005/06.

· The main issue related to the short term future of the seawall has been resolved through further investigation, and short term repairs were undertaken during 2006/07 which have enabled the footway along the top of the seawall to be re-opened to the public. A monitoring programme has been put in place for the next three years.

· During 2007/08 further work will look at the long-term future of the defences. It is worth highlighting now that funds from the coastal budget may not be enough in the future for a sustainable long term solution and further funds may be requested specifically on this matter.

(iv) Bunny Meadows (River Hamble)

· An Issues and Options report was produced during 2005/06

· Halcrows has completed an Options Appraisal during 2006/07. A Visitor Survey will also be completed by the end of the financial year. The information from these studies will be used to produce a Strategy recommending County Council's preferred options by the end of the financial year. Public consultation will also take place during 2007 to allow stakeholders to understand the main issues and options.

· During 2007 further work will be required to agree the preferred options. Further work through the Working Group and the `River Itchen, Western Shore, Netley and River Hamble Coastal Defences Strategy' will look at the long-term future of the defences. Further planning and investigation will be necessary to consider how the best option can be implemented and when. It is not anticipated that funds will be required for actual works during 2007/08, but funds may be requested in future years from the coastal defences budget.

(v) Titchfield Haven and Lymington/Keyhaven Local Nature Reserve

· Working Groups have not been set up for these areas yet as there are no current pressures to address. However there may be a need to consider these sites in more detail during 2007.

APPENDIX 5

Other Studies and Joint Projects progressed in 2006/07

APPENDIX 6

Studies and Joint Projects to carry forward to 2007/08

APPENDIX 7

Requested Allocations for Coastal Capital Budget 2007/08