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Coastal Cells and Shoreline Management Plans
 In recent
years the concept of 'Coastal
Cells' has developed in the UK. These represent a series of interlinked
systems where sediment is moved around the coast by waves and currents (sediment
transport cells). The cells and sub-cells that have been identified for England
and Wales and Scotland comprise an arrangement of:
- sediment sources (e.g. eroding cliffs, river, sea bed);
- areas where sediment is moved by coastal processes;
- sediment stores or sinks (e.g. beaches, estuaries and offshore banks.
Together these have been used to define practical subdivisions of the coast
(see Figure opposite) important for developing policy for Shoreline Management
Plans. The Government has promoted the formation of voluntary coastal
defence groups around these coastal cells made up of maritime district
authorities and other bodies with coastal defence responsibilities. As part
of this approach (DEFRA 2001) has issued
guidance for maritime district authorities to help in the preparation of Shoreline
Management Plans (SMPs) see http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/CoastalGroups.htm.
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Guidance: These broad geographical zones should be used to provide
sectors for the further assessment of change and the conservation needs
of coastal vegetated shingle. The results of Futurecoast,
the CHaMPs
and the new generation of SMPs
are valuable sources of information. In this context the recent comprehensive
Regional
Environmental Assessment of the cumulative impacts of planning
applications to dredge offshore from the Sussex coast by the company's
involved could prove to be an important initiative.
Armed with this contextual information decisions on future coastal management
including coastal defence policy and planning issues, such as siting coastal
development will be better informed.
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References
DEFRA
2001.
Shoreline Management Plans: a Guide for Coastal Defence Authorities. .
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London.
Abstract...
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