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Pett Levels - summary
The Pett Levels form part of the Dungeness
CHaMP. They are mainly agricultural land with wet ditches and some
pools, which attract birds. The surrounding low lying land is residential, thus
limiting options for large scale managed realignment.
The coastline enclosing Pett Levels comprises a concrete sea wall constructed
between 1947 and 1950. It extends for 5km from Pett Level to the western end
of the Beach Reserve. From here it gives way to a renewable shingle ridge. It
is now maintained by the Environment Agency with shingle feeding and timber
groyne works. From the Old Lifeboat House to the River Mouth there is a more
natural storm crest.
A steel pile, concrete block and asphalt wall was constructed along 5km of
this shoreline with a crest of 7.31m OD. The continuing erosion led to the start
of beach recharge to prevent the toe of the wall from being undermined. Pett,
Rye Harbour, Broomhill and Jury's Gap are all maintained by beach feeding.
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Guidance: The situation along the Pett Levels frontage is illustrative
of the fact that on sedimentary shores hard defences alone may be insufficient
for adequate and long term coastal defence. The Environment Agency flood
defence schemes in this area, which involve beach nourishment
are one means of helping to overcome these problems.
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