Overview
The Environment Agency opened a public consultation this week for the Medway Estuary and Swale Strategy (MEASS).
This will give the public the opportunity to discuss the draft preferred options proposed in the strategy report with the Environment Agency. Communities will have the opportunity to view information, look at the final options, ask questions and provide valuable input to the project team.
The Environment Agency opened a public consultation this week for the Medway Estuary and Swale Strategy (MEASS).
The Environment Agency have developed the Medway Estuary and Swale Strategy (MEASS) to manage the risks from flood and coastal erosion over the next 100 years.
The Strategy will cover the Medway Estuary, Medway Towns to Stoke, Sittingbourne, Conyer, Faversham, and the Isle of Sheppey.
MEASS has reviewed the policies that were set out in the 2010 Medway and Swale Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) and the 2010 Isle of Grain and South Foreland Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). These plans conclude that a combination of Hold the Line, and Managed Realignment options should be implemented to help protect the community from coastal flooding and erosion over the next 100 years.
The Strategy will cover the Medway Estuary, Medway Towns to Stoke, Sittingbourne, Conyer, Faversham, and the Isle of Sheppey.
MEASS has reviewed the policies that were set out in the 2010 Medway and Swale Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) and the 2010 Isle of Grain and South Foreland Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). These plans conclude that a combination of Hold the Line, and Managed Realignment options should be implemented to help protect the community from coastal flooding and erosion over the next 100 years.
Flooding is a risk currently facing communities and landowners in the low-lying areas around Swale and the Medway Estuary. Due to ageing flood defences, rising sea levels and climate change, this will increase in the next 100 years with approximately 18,000 properties, over 10,000 hectares of agricultural land and key infrastructure at an increased risk of tidal flooding.
The Environment Agency has carried out a consultation with key stakeholders including local authorities and parish councils, ahead of upcoming landowner and public consultations.
The project team have developed leading options for each section of the strategy area. These have been based on economic, technical, and environmental appraisals.
The final strategy is currently expected to be completed in spring 2018, with official sign off in summer 2018.
Benefit Area 4 covers the Medway Marshes from the east of Gillingham through to the Sheppey Crossing. The area is mainly a rural and agricultural area, with localised residential and industrial areas at Upchurch and Lower Halstow. In BA4.2a there is a Southern Water Sewage Works. In BA4.7 (Chetney Marshes) there is a cable terminal at the northern end, and the electricity pylons run through the centre of the Marsh. There are a variety of defences in the Benefit Area including embankments and seawalls. The current minimum SoP of the defences is for a 50% AEP event, and the defences have an average residual life of 10 - 25 years. The main risk in the area is from coastal flooding, but there is a risk of erosion in BA4.6.
• Cable terminal in BA4.7
• Natural England Coastal Path (Saxon Shore Way)
• Agricultural Land
• Sewage works at Motney Hill (BA4.2a)
• Riverside Country Park
• Industrial area at Otterham Quay
• Residential and business properties
Public consultation
The Environment Agency is keen to hear your views on the proposed flood and coastal management options. They want to make sure they have captured all information before finalising the strategy.
They will use the information from the consulation responses to inform their preferred management options and help shape the strategy.
Give them your views
Give them your views
Please read the consultation documents (links below) before completing the online survey at the link here ☞ View documents and respond online
Public drop-in event before Christmas
Our nearest public consultation drop-in will be at Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road, Gillingham ME7 2XH on Wednesday the 6th of December between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
Come along to meet the project team and discuss the consultation in person.
Contacts
If you would like more information on the strategy, or would like to be added to the project’s regular Email newsletter distribution list, please contact Richard Westcott or Jon Byne on: 03708 506506 or Email: meass@environment-agency.gov.uk
Links
Environment Agency - Medway Estuary and Swale strategy
Policy paper - Medway Estuary and Swale flood and coastal risk management strategy
Jon Byne
Flood and Coastal Risk Advisor - Environment Agency
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