The Environment, in partnership with The Isle of Wight council, is launching an online consultation. This is an opportunity to get feedback from the coastal communities in Yaverland, Sandown and Shanklin on the proposed options to restore their coastal defences.
The consultation will be launched on Monday 23rd October and will run for six weeks, until Friday 1st December. There will also be six public exhibitions, throughout October and November, in Sandown and Shanklin for those people who prefer to give their feedback face to face.
All the proposed options will make the coastal communities more resilient to climate change in the future.
Protecting more than 500 properties
The proposed sea defences will better protect over 500 properties in Yaverland and Sandown, as well as key infrastructure, local businesses, heritage assets and designated sites from the risk of flooding and coastal erosion. In Shanklin, approximately 84 properties and 37 businesses will be better protected from the risk of flooding and coastal erosion.
Webster: Storm events will become more extreme, due to climate change
Emily Webster, Project Lead for Shanklin and Yaverland Coastal Defence Schemes, Environment Agency, said,
“There is an increasing risk of flooding and coastal erosion for the communities in Yaverland, Sandown and Shanklin. The sea wall and groynes are deteriorating, sea level is predicted to rise and storm events will become more extreme, due to climate change.
“We want to encourage as many people as possible to give their feedback on our proposed options to restore the coastline. This can either be done via the online consultation or at one of our public exhibitions. The responses we get will be very important because they will help us choose the best design for restoring the current flood defences.”
Councillor Paul Fuller from Isle of Wight council said,
“The exhibitions offer an excellent opportunity for residents to engage with experts to ask questions and find out more about sea defences.”
Family friendly
Everyone is welcome to pop into the upcoming public exhibitions. There will be a free cup of tea or coffee, and light snacks. Children can also take part in a free LEGO® building competition with fantastic prizes up for grabs.
The online consultation is very easy to do and only takes five minutes to complete. There will be hard copies of the consultation available in local libraries and at the Isle of Wight Council office reception.
Public exhibitions
| DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 25 October | 2pm - 7pm | Café at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Yaverland Road, Sandown, PO36 8QB |
| Thursday 26 October | 2pm - 7pm | Café at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Yaverland Road, Sandown, PO36 8QB |
| Friday 27 October | 10am - 3pm | Broadway Centre, The Broadway, Sandown, PO36 9GG |
| Wednesday 8 November | 2pm - 7pm | The Clifton, 1 Queens Road, Shanklin, PO37 6AN |
| Thursday 9 November | 10am - 3pm | The Clifton, 1 Queens Road, Shanklin, PO37 6AN |
| Friday 10 November | 10am - 3pm | The Clifton, 1 Queens Road, Shanklin, PO37 6AN |
Take part in the online consultation
Visit the Shanklin Coastal Defence Scheme Page
Visit the Yaverland Coastal Defence Scheme Page
News shared by the Environment Agency, in their own words. Ed
