Proposals were received by the group requesting that they re-evaluate further offshore islands and other alternative solutions, these were discussed at the meeting.
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Some weeks ago, there was a flurry of pieces on the BMP:
Beach Management Plan: a history of proposing a jetty – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Beach Management Plan: creating appealing public spaces – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Beach Management Plan: an analysis of the Plymouth report – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Beach Management Plan: raising the height of the splash wall – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Beach Management Plan: tenfold increase in erosion predicted – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Beach Management Plan: new report on rates of erosion – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Beach Management Plan: alternative views and new studies – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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This all fed into the VGS approach to the latest meeting of the BMP steering group which met up on the 3rd of December.
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This is the VGS view of the meeting:
From the BMP Steering Group – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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photo: Agenda Item 9 discussed the use of a submerged Geotextile tube to act like a reef and break the force of the waves before they reached the beach.
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And this is an excerpt from the official view of that meeting – as described in the District Council’s press release from today:
Proposals were received by the group requesting that they re-evaluate further offshore islands and other alternative solutions, these were discussed at the meeting. However, it was agreed to proceed with the current scheme so as not to delay any progress. At the same time the group agreed to continually evaluate any further affordable solutions and adjust the scheme at the final design stage as appropriate.
The group discussed the recently published coastal analysis study (CCMA) from the University of Plymouth about the future erosion rates along the coast between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis. The study, although useful for making future planning choices, ultimately has no effect on the BMP, as it does not unlock any further funding.
Currently, the Environment Agency do not recognise the tool to justify further funding which has been produced from the study and forecasts erosion rates in the future. A bespoke local study has previously been completed. The CCMA’s publication does, however, focus minds to deliver the BMP scheme sooner rather than later.
At the steering group’s previous meeting in October, it was agreed to review the project aims and objectives and its terms of reference.
Subject to the adoption by the council, the future meetings will be open to the public.
18 December 2020 – Great progress towards a Sidmouth and East Beach flood scheme – East Devon
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With more from the council’s website:
Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan and Scheme – East Devon
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And from the VGS website:
Beach Management Plan – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Reframing the BMP question: February 2020 – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Erosion at Sidmouth in pictures – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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