BCP Council adopts Christchurch Bay and Harbour Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) strategy

A PROJECT three years in the making designed to protect around 3,800 homes along the coast from Hurst Spit to Christchurch from flooding and erosion has been adopted by BCP Council.

The Christchurch Bay and Harbour Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) was jointly developed by New Forest District Council, BCP Council and the Environment Agency, on how to defend areas against flooding over the next 100 years.

Introducing the report at a meeting of BCP Council’s cabinet, Cllr Andy Handley, member for climate response, environment and energy, said: “This report is a really good example of our flood and erosion risk team looking forward for the long term.

“There is a lot of work we need to know up the River Avon and part of the Stour Valley Park. The work is about us trying to slow the river flow to help with flooding.

“This (report) is concentrated on the coast and supporting the coastal strip from the Long Groyne [at Hengistbury Head] which is pretty much completed up to Hurst Spit.”

Cllr Hadley said there were a “significant number of houses” in the Christchurch Bay area which are at risk from flooding and coastal erosion.

He told cabinet members: “In order to get funding from the Environment Agency to undertake this work we need to have a strategy in place, so this is a step to get the funding.

“We have been very successful with the Environment Agency in terms of having clarity in what we need and getting financial input.”

The report outlines that a ‘do nothing’ attitude to coastal erosion along Christchurch Bay could result in £1.21 billion worth of damage from floods.

It revealed that the danger from large storm events from parts of the open coast would see erosion and flooding increasing “significantly”.

If no measures were implemented to manage coastal defences over 1,600 properties are likely to be at risk from erosion and over 2,200 properties at risk from coastal flooding in the Christchurch Bay area by 2124.

Among the work needed to protect areas at risk are small-scale repairs to existing defences, maintaining toe defences and undertaking beach recycling.

At Christchurch Harbour, the main risk was from tidal inundation with a “large number of properties at risk from tidal flooding”, the report revealed.

Work to raise and lengthen embankment defences over the next 20 years would have to be undertaken along with refurbishing the quay wall. The defences for the Quomps and Willow Drive would also have to be raised.

New flood defences would also be built around Stanpit while existing ones would be repaired and maintained. The council would also “undertake property level protection” to houses at risk of flooding in Mudeford.

The main risk in the area between Avon Beach and Highcliffe is coastal erosion which will be prevented by beach “nourishment” and new rock groynes being installed along Avon Beach and Friars Cliff.

At Highcliffe a “rock armour defence” will be constructed in the next 20 years

Although there would be government funding for most of the work, contributions from other sources over the next two decades are estimated to be between £16m and £60m.