Storm-damaged Hurst Spit won’t be repaired without funding, says New Forest District Council
A SECTION of a shingle bank at Hurst Spit which was damaged by storms will not be repaired unless funding is found.
The bank was severely depleted after being hit by a record number of storms over the past year.
New Forest District Council officers have said the width of a 400-metre stretch of the spit had been “significantly reduced”.
But the district council does not have the money to carry out repairs, and this will not change without external funding.
A recent published decision by Conservative portfolio holder for environment and sustainability Cllr Geoffrey Blunden set out that the council would approach landowners and organisations with an interest in Hurst Spit over financial support.
It said NFDC would consider carrying out works that are required to protect flood and erosion risk if in receipt of external funding.
This decision was called in to the place and sustainability overview and scrutiny panel by Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Davies, who suggested the council should commit money to carry out maintenance.
The local authority is not one of the landowners of Hurst Spit and has no statutory duty to carry out flood and coastal erosion risk management.
Conservative panel member Cllr Allan Glass said national organisations and landowners of Hurst Spit were not committing to funding.
Cllr Glass said: “We have no responsibility to fund it, we have no responsibility to do it. Why on earth should we do what central government should be doing?
“Let’s face it, they have taken enough money in taxes lately.”
The council’s coastal service manager, Steve Cook, said work was carried out with grant in aid funding issued by the Environment Agency from 1996 until 2022.
He said reductions in the grant led to officers needing contributions from other parties, including Hampshire County Council and Hurst Castle owner English Heritage three years ago.
On repairing recent damage, Mr Cook said it was difficult to assess how much money was needed, but he suggested it would be “significantly higher” than the £58,000 required in 2022.
Cllr Steve Clarke said the portfolio holder’s decision was “leaving doors open” and “sending a clear message”.
He said English Heritage had responsibility for preserving historic sites, adding that “they don’t seem at all prepared to bring forward any funding at all to protect the spit”.
“It is for those national bodies to actually come forward with the funding to enable us to carry out the works,” Cllr Clarke said.
Liberal Democrat councillor Malcolm Wade said the council needed to take a proactive approach.
Cllr Blunden told the panel meeting: “We are very active in seeking additional funding and that’s one of the reasons my decision was made public on this to ensure everybody is aware of the situation.
“On maintenance, we have maintained it and will continue to maintain it if funding is there.”
The portfolio holder said he had met with the Environment Agency and landowners, alongside sending a letter to the environment secretary.
The debate over maintenance funding comes after a recent public engagement process on the draft future management strategy of the coast from Hurst Spit to Lymington sparked concern.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The coastline around Hurst Spit and Lymington is under threat from climate change and sea level rise.
“To better protect people and properties, we need to strengthen the current defences and look to raise them in the future.
“There are no plans to breach Hurst Spit. Together with our partners, we are developing options, will continue to share progress and welcome input from the local community.”
An English Heritage spokesperson said Hurst Castle’s future was interconnected with the future of its local area coastline.
They said they were actively engaging with the Environment Agency and other partners on the emerging coastal risk management strategy.
“While we fully recognise and share the challenges faced, English Heritage’s responsibility extends to the management and protection of the castle,” the English Heritage spokesperson said.
“It’s clear that this is an extremely complicated picture and there are no easy answers.”
A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting coastal communities for the challenges they face now and in the future.
“That is why this government is investing £2.65 billion over the next two years to better protect communities from flooding and coastal erosion.”
Meanwhile, New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne has launched a survey of his constituents on the spit’s management.
The survey asks constituents if they are fully aware of the Environment Agency proposals, and how concerned they are about the implications of this change.
Respondents are also asked to highlight potential consequences of ‘rewilding the spit’ such as an increased flood risk for Lymington, loss of salt marshes and coastal, disruption to marine activities or coastal erosion effecting homes and businesses.
To complete the survey visit https://tinyurl.com/yk6s2kmu
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