Floodplain plans hailed as ‘bold’ intiative
MAJOR changes in the landscape of East Devon will protect part of the fragile Jurassic Coast from the ravages of climate change, environmentalists behind the plans believe.
As reported in yesterday’s Western Morning News councillors on East Devon’s planning committee have unanimously backed multi-million pound plans to restore the Otter Estuary to its natural and historic flood plains.
The £15m project, led by landowner Clinton Devon Estates and the Environment Agency, will see the Big and Little Marsh floodplains around Budleigh Salterton restored, with breaches created in the Little Bank, the Big Bank and the River Otter Embankment to allow water to flow through.
Dr Sam Bridgewater, head of wildlife and conservation at Clinton Devon Estates said it offered a chance for the area to “adapt to climate change”. “There are two options
– a managed transition, or the second which is unmanaged with none of the protections in place,” he said.
“We aim to adapt the Lower Otter Valley to the current and future challenges climate change will bring. This is among the biggest changes that East Devon has seen but the natural environment will be improved by the scheme. It is a bold initiative but the times demand it and we must confront climate challenges.”
Head of conservation for the Jurassic Coast Trust, Sam Scriven, added that the scheme would benefit the Jurassic Coast, saying “it is rare for a major project like this to improve rather than harm the world heritage site”, while local resident David Daniel added that although the scenery from his childhood would change dramatically, a man-made landscape will be lost but another one will be gained. He added: “It is far better to pre-empt any event that manages change in a controlled way. The status quo is not sustainable.”
Concerns had been raised in debate over the plans by local residents about the risk of flooding, with Margaret Yerrell saying it will have unpredictable and irreversible changes, Ian Smith saying it will bring the sea from over 2km away to the edge of homes and asking councillors to not give permission for ‘the dangerous and unnecessarily overextended project’, while David Butler said that rushing to make a decision would lead to the risk of adverse outcomes.
Budleigh Salterton ward councillors Alan Dent and Tom Wright both called for the scheme to be approved, with Cllr Dent saying: “Assurance must be given that residents’ properties will be safe and secure in the future. This is a welcome long term project that manages the risk of rising sea levels and the consequence of unmanaged flooding.” Cllr Wright added: “The project will deliver a significant area of quality tidal saltmarsh.” Cllr Geoff Jung, portfolio holder for coast, country and environment, also asked for the plans to be approved, saying: “You don’t mess with nature and in the end, nature wins. Nature will eventually take the area back, so if we allow nature to do its thing, we will lose the agricultural land, the footpaths, and allow salt water in ingress into the old waste tip.
“This can springboard East Devon into being a leader in nature-based solutions to reduce flood and coastal erosion risk.”