The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Time to fight for Angus coastline
MSP says the threat of further erosion is ‘very real’
Parts of Angus “could be lost forever” unless something is done soon to tackle coastal erosion, an MSP has warned.
North East Scotland Conservative MSP Liam Kerr was speaking after it emerged nearly one-fifth of Scotland’s coastline is at risk of erosion – threatening some of the country’s most prized land and infrastructure within the next 30 years.
The areas most affected include Barry Buddon and Montrose, with the coastline at both locations badly scarred by the impact of ravaging tides.
Mr Kerr said: “The threat of further coastal erosion is very real and could have devastating consequences for Angus.
“Unless something is done soon, parts of Angus could be lost forever and the consequences of a breach of flood defences are sadly all too well known in the North East.”
He added: “This report shows, for these areas especially, it is time to stop talking and start acting, before it is too late.”
Nearly one-fifth of Scotland’s coastline is at serious risk of erosion, threatening some of the country’s most prized natural heritage within three decades.
Around £400 million worth of developments are potentially in danger from rising sea levels, including swathes of the Tayside and Fife coastline.
In Fife this includes the historic Wemyss Caves, the world-famous St Andrews Links golf courses and Ravenscraig Castle.
Further north Broughty Ferry appears to be seriously at risk. In Angus there are severe warnings for Montrose and Barry Buddon.
The threatened devastating impact of climate change and coastal erosion was unearthed as experts from the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage and Glasgow University mapped Scotland’s coastal landscapes using data dating going back to the 1890s.
A new tool launched yesterday in St Andrews is designed to help communities and heritage sites at risk.
In making its predictions, the Dynamic Coast: Scotland’s national coastal change assessment tool uses more than 2,000 maps and one million data points.
It identifies erosion and growth rates
Since the 1970s the rate of coastal erosion has doubled and that pace will not slow down anytime soon. ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY ROSEANNA CUNNINGHAM
and makes projections to show potential changes to the coastline.
The future was spelled out in bleak terms by Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.
“Since the 1970s the rate of coastal erosion has doubled and that pace will not slow down anytime soon. In fact, it will probably get worse and faster.”
She hailed the tool as an innovation which could help protect infrastructure and historic sites from significant environmental change and damage.
She said more than 9,000 buildings, 500km of road, 60km of rail track, 300km of water supply lines and vital airports runways were protected by natural defences.
“However, some of these already face serious damage and it’s vital that local authorities, transport agencies and other planning bodies investigate how they can work together to manage coastal change before it’s too late.”
Professor Jim Hansom, principal researcher from Glasgow University, said since the 1970s the extent of erosion is up 39%, the erosion rate has doubled but the growth of sediment deposits has fallen by 22%.
He said: “The clock is ticking and we need to start adapting to avoid unnecessary costs.”
SNH’s scientific advisory committee chairman Professor Robert Furness said: “We must also be aware that £400m worth of property, roads and infrastructure lies along coastlines that could be affected by erosion by 2050.
“Our mission now is to ensure we do all we can to protect these areas.”
Swathes of the country’s coastline are under serious threat from erosion according to predictions issued by the Scottish Government. The Dynamic Coast: Scotland’s National Coastal Change Assessment (NCCA) tool is a comprehensive study of Scotland’s coasts, examining how they have been affected since the late 1800s.
Crucially, the tool also casts ahead to examine weak spots at risk over the next three decades.
Tayside and Fife beauty spots including areas around Broughty Ferry, St Andrews, Montrose and Carnoustie have been identified.
While this may not be a surprise to residents who are well aware of the encroaching North Sea, it is a timely warning to the authorities that work must be done to protect an estimated £400 million of assets.
Already part of the historic Montrose Links golf course is slipping away and other pieces of historic and vital infrastructure will be similarly affected if action is not taken. As climate change speeds up, the threat grows. Scotland’s coasts are a unique and valuable asset which must be protected. so the Scottish Government must be praised for its forward-thinking in this matter, as must its partners and researchers for their efforts. It is not enough merely to issue warnings however. This study must be underpinned by the necessary funding for remedial and protective work.