Wildlife and Environment Agency misunderstanding

A joint World Wildlife Fund and Wildlife Trusts report into the cost of coastal flood defences fails to take into account that the Environment Agency works with nature where possible to provide coastal defences. The report called "An Economically Efficient Strategy for Coastal Defence and the Conservation of the Intertidal Zone" claims the Environment Agency is wasting money on sea defences at the expense of beach and wetland habitats.

The approach to coastal defences has changed in recent years to one of working with nature. Examples of this are projects to recharge beaches with sand on the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coasts to replenish the natural protection of beaches removed by North Sea storms and natural movement of beach material along the coast.

In Essex, a major partnership with Harwich Haven Authority supports important foreshore habitats through the beneficial re-use of harbour dredgings. This work is jointly funded by Harwich Haven Authority and the Agency and will cost the Agency some £1.2 million over the next four years. The Environment Agency takes into account the impact on the environment through extensive environmental impact studies before a scheme is formulated. These include consultation with statutory and local environmental bodies, such as English Nature, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts.

A national strategy to identify where the coastline should be maintained and where it should be allowed to retreat was called for in the report and has in effect, been produced through the development of Shoreline Management Plans for the coast of England and Wales. For each area of the coast the Agency has produced Shoreline Management Plans in partnership with Local Authorities. These too underwent public consultation, including English Nature and other environmental organisations before being adopted by the Local Flood Defence Committees and Local Authority Committees. The Environment Agency is involved in a similar process to create Estuary Management Plans and Coastal Habitat Management Plans. The vital importance of estuary and coastal habitats is recognised and fully supported by the Agency. These features are protected by the European Union Habitats Directive and also play a vital role in flood defence. The Agency is also undertaking practical development of options such as managed realignment, with completed schemes on the Essex Coast. There is a current European Life Bid by the Agency to develop further demonstration sites on the Essex coast continuing our commitment to sustainable coastal management.

For some parts of the coast, such as Wallesea Island in Essex, the recommendation of the Shoreline Management Plan is to hold the existing defence line until further studies of the local coastal processes have been undertaken to establish the impact, particularly on estuaries, of the managed retreat or realignment option. A detailed appraisal of the technical, economic and environmental aspects of proposals for coastal defences at Wallesea Island has been undertaken. Although the estimated cost is £21/2M, the benefits were calculated to be two and a third times greater than this cost. Eastern Electricity advised the Agency that a managed retreat at Wallesea Island would mean re-routing critical electricity supply cables at an extra cost of about £4M. The WWF reports states that the Wallasea Island scheme only protects one small farm. This is not true. The scheme also protects ten dwellings, two public houses, a caravan park, timber importers and timber storage area, a marina and associated small businesses as well as storage for new Ford cars. The report also states that the annual maintenance cost to be £80,000 when the real figure is nearer £8,000.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (MAFF) oversee the flood defence work carried out by the Agency and rigorously check proposals to ensure value for the public money spent. In carrying out this assessment MAFF examine the wider interests and benefits of the work proposed Protecting the coastal environment and the people who live along it is a difficult balancing act. The Environment Agency strives to deliver the best solutions available for coastal defences after considerable research and consultation.