Estuary future meeting (From Penarth Times)

Estuary future meeting

11:40am Sunday 31st May 2009 in Latest news

RESIDENTS have the opportunity to comment on how the land surrounding the Severn Estuary should be managed in years to come.

Interested parties will be able to put their views across at a consultation meeting which will take place at the Paget Rooms in Penarth on Wednesday, June 10, from 2pm to 6pm.

There is no registration process and you can simply turn up on the day to have your say.

Issues to be discussed include coping with possible future floods, and coastal erosion on and around the Severn Estuary.

The event will be hosted by the Severn Estuary Coastal Group (SECG) in partnership with the Vale Council and the Environment Agency.

The SECG is currently running a large-scale review and consultation, in Wales and the South-West of England, into the management of the Severn Estuary’s coast in which the meeting in Penarth will play a key part.

Once the review and consultation period finishes, a new ‘shoreline management plan’ will be drawn-up for local authorities and regulators – including the Vale Council to adopt, replacing the current decade-old plan.

Cllr Geoff Cox, Vale Council cabinet member for visible and building services, said: "I welcome this opportunity for the public to be involved in the consultation process for the review of the Shoreline Management Plan for the Severn Estuary, and encourage those interested in the management of the coast from Penarth Head to Lavernock Point to actively participate in the review." Dave Harris, Chair of the Severn Estuary Coastal Group said: "There are thousands of residential and commercial properties in the Severn Estuary at risk from flooding, erosion and climate change. We need to plan now for changes in the future.

"It is important that the decisions we all make today do not put additional burdens on future generations. People need to be able to plan ahead and make decisions about their businesses, land, homes and investments."

Ken Tatem, project manger for the Environment Agency said: "We’d like to encourage anyone who lives or works around the estuary to get involved in this consultation process.

"Not just to make sure we’re making informed, lasting decisions, but more importantly, to help the coastal group come as close to consensus as we can on crucial issues like protecting against coastal erosion and flooding."