Skegness Magazine

A public consultation is being launched on the draft Shoreline Management Plan (SMP2)

East Lindsey District Council is a partner in the development of the Shoreline Management Plan, working in partnership with organisations including the Environment Agency, National Farmers’ Union, Natural England, English Heritage, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council.

The SMP2 will set the framework for managing coastal flood and erosion defences and focus on how we protect our homes, businesses and valuable farmland from these. The SMP covers the area from the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and will consider the implications of coastal flooding and erosion over the next 20, 50 and 100 years.

Anyone living or working along the coast, from Flamborough Head in the East Riding to Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire is invited to take part and East Lindsey District Council is urging people to have their say.

The SMP2 document provides short, medium and long-term policies and options for the future management of erosion and flood defences along the East Riding and Lincolnshire coastline, taking into account the impact on people and the environment.

Portfolio Holder for Planning, Councillor Neil Cooper, explained: “The Shoreline Management Plan sets out area by area how the East Lindsey coast will be affected by sea level rise and coastal flooding and provides a policy framework for how this should be dealt with. It also considers the effect of climate change on our coast over the coming years.”

The formal SMP2 consultation will start on November 2, 2009, for three months. Four exhibitions are to be held at venues along the East Lindsey coast in Chapel St Leonards, Skegness, Marshchapel and Sutton on Sea for people to visit, see copies of the draft Plan and talk to the people involved.

Councillor Cooper, continued: “We want to hear residents’ views on the draft document and we hope as many people as possible will take this opportunity to give us their valued opinion.” Based on feedback received during this consultation period, it is anticipated the final plan will be completed by the end of June 2010.

A copy of the draft Plan will also be available to view at the Council’s Manby Headquarters and on the website at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk so feedback can be provided. Interested residents can visit the project website (www.hecag-smp2.co.uk) and offer comments electronically through this portal.

Exhibition location

Date and time

The Access Centre, South Road, Chapel St Leonards

23/11/09 1.00pm – 7.00pm

Grosvenor House Hotel, North Parade, Skegness

24/11/09 1.00pm – 7.00pm

Village Hall, Marshchapel

27/11/09 1.00pm – 7.00pm

Bacchus Hotel, High Street, Sutton on Sea

30/11/09 1.00pm – 7.00pm
There is also a joint event on the November 20, 2009, at Coronation Hall, Wainfleet for the Lincolnshire Coastal Study, the Shoreline Management Plan, Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point and the Shoreline Management Plan Gibraltar Point to Hunstanton.