The Environment Agency and Isle of Wight Council are pressing ahead with plans to refurbish coastal defences between Steephill Cove and Monk’s Bay.
Bonchurch residents will get the chance to hear about the scheme first-hand at a public meeting this week.
The meeting takes place on Tuesday 29th September 2026, from 5.30pm to 7pm, at St Boniface Church on Bonchurch Shute.
Representatives from the Environment Agency will attend to update residents on the Ventnor Coastal Defence Scheme.
New group co-ordinates local input
The Bonchurch Community Association has set up a new Bonchurch Coast Group specifically for this purpose.
Any Bonchurch resident with an interest in the scheme can join the group. Simply email [email protected].
The group exists to help residents share information, raise questions and offer feedback on the emerging plans.
Organisers designed the scheme to protect the coastline from erosion for the next 60 years.
What the session will cover
Attendees can expect an introduction to the scheme and an explanation of where the project currently stands.
The Environment Agency team will also outline what the future might look like for the affected stretch of coast.
Residents will have an opportunity to meet members of the project team and hear more about their work directly.
Crucially, the Environment Agency representatives will respond, where possible, to questions the Bonchurch Coast Group submitted following the recent Landscape Visions and Opportunities Plan (LVOP) consultation.
Open to all, but with a local focus
Organisers welcome everyone to attend the meeting. However, they have designed the session primarily around the implications for the Bonchurch community.
Anyone who cannot make the meeting can still find out more about the scheme online.
Full details are available on the website.
Public information office
In addition, the Environment Agency have a public information office, located within the site compound on Ventnor’s Eastern Esplanade.
You can pop in on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 2pm from 29th September until 26th November 2026.
