Dawlish and Dawlish Warren sea defences - ongoing concerns and issues discussion

[whole diary]

[James Vertigan]

damage to...groyne defences

Ouch. That sounds painful.

Perhaps they need a Box tunnel? 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Legal action threat over Dawlish Warren sea defences

People living and working in and around a seaside town in Devon are considering taking legal action against the Environment Agency (EA).
Dawlish Warren's tourism group says the agency has failed in its duty to maintain the sea defences. It claims if the sea breaks through it will be catastrophic for the Warren and low-lying Exe estuary villages.
The EA denies the claims, saying it has spent ^100,000 shoring up defences at the Warren.
EA spokesman Martin Davies said the agency was aware of the erosion and it had improved and increased its maintenance regime.
"We recently spent more than ^100,000 repairing groynes [wooden walls] and putting in rock armour because of the erosion," he said. "As part of the shoreline management, we have a policy which says we will hold the line at Dawlish Warren and we have an immediate and ongoing commitment to the site."
Dawlish Warren was a very dynamic site and had an important flood defence role, Mr Davies said. "If Dawlish Warren was breached like it was in the 1940s, it's possible wave height would increase in the estuary, putting residents at risk. If we could not hold the line, we would repair a breach, but longer term it might not be sustainable because of rising sea levels and climate change."
But Simon Broom, who has lived at the Warren all his life, told BBC News the defences are being eroded and are not being properly maintained.
"We need to save this - not just for ourselves, not just for the tourism industry, but for everybody who uses the River Exe and everybody who lives up and down the River Exe," he said.
The EA said it has to consider the long-term strategy for the area before spending millions of pounds on sea defence work.
Last week Teignbridge District Council announced it was bidding for money to ship in sand from the Isle of Wight to replenish the tonnes lost during storms.

[devon_metro]

What is suing them going to achieve? Will only mean the EA has less money to spend... 

[signalandtelegraph]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Legal action threat over Dawlish Warren sea defences

People living and working in and around a seaside town in Devon are considering taking legal action against the Environment Agency (EA).
Dawlish Warren's tourism group says the agency has failed in its duty to maintain the sea defences. It claims if the sea breaks through it will be catastrophic for the Warren and low-lying Exe estuary villages.
The EA denies the claims, saying it has spent ^100,000 shoring up defences at the Warren.
EA spokesman Martin Davies said the agency was aware of the erosion and it had improved and increased its maintenance regime.
"We recently spent more than ^100,000 repairing groynes [wooden walls] and putting in rock armour because of the erosion," he said. "As part of the shoreline management, we have a policy which says we will hold the line at Dawlish Warren and we have an immediate and ongoing commitment to the site."
Dawlish Warren was a very dynamic site and had an important flood defence role, Mr Davies said. "If Dawlish Warren was breached like it was in the 1940s, it's possible wave height would increase in the estuary, putting residents at risk. If we could not hold the line, we would repair a breach, but longer term it might not be sustainable because of rising sea levels and climate change."
But Simon Broom, who has lived at the Warren all his life, told BBC News the defences are being eroded and are not being properly maintained.
"We need to save this - not just for ourselves, not just for the tourism industry, but for everybody who uses the River Exe and everybody who lives up and down the River Exe," he said.
The EA said it has to consider the long-term strategy for the area before spending millions of pounds on sea defence work.
Last week Teignbridge District Council announced it was bidding for money to ship in sand from the Isle of Wight to replenish the tonnes lost during storms.

so not the sea wall then 

[Chris from Nailsea]

No, apparently not. 

Although it is perhaps another example of the various ongoing problems experienced in many locations along the coast, with rising sea levels, sudden extreme bad weather, and so on.

[John R]

I was amused to read today that a 30 year argument between India and Bangladesh over the sovereignty of an obscure tiny island has finally been resolved.... it's disappeared under the sea. 

[devon_metro]

No, apparently not. 

Although it is perhaps another example of the various ongoing problems experienced in many locations along the coast, with rising sea levels, sudden extreme bad weather, and so on.

The erosion of the 'spit' at Dawlish Warren has been gradually eroding for many years. It's a natural process and has been worsened by work to protect the railway in the fact that a breakwater has been constructed at 'Langstone Rock' hence reducing the amount of longshore drift that can occur, hence 'topping up' the levels of sand on the beach. An interesting photo is available here, showing how it has changed over time (http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/jpg-Dawlish-Warren/7DLW-Kidson-map-m.jpg) courtesy of the University of Southampton (more reading: http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Dawlish-Warren.htm)
As nature dictates, due to the prevailing south westerly winds longshore drift means that the railway end of the 'spit' will lose sediment to the Exmouth end.
Anyhows, I probably know too much about it having done my GCSE Geography coursework on it, so I will stop rambling 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Don't play down your knowledge, devon_metro! 

I, too, did Geography - and here is an interesting presentation by Dr Chris Spencer of the University of the West of England, who blames it on ... erm ... I K Brunel, actually! 

[devon_metro]

Would that be a Dr Chris Spencer from Nailsea? or somebody completely unrelated 

And indeed, i've got all of this to look forward to at University 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Dr Chris Spencer is unrelated, and indeed unknown, to me - I merely offered his (I assume it's 'his') presentation! 

[JayMac]

Interesting picture from the University of Southampton report



A very easy game of 'Where's Izzy' perhaps?

[woody]

This from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8587164.stm
Also this regards the Geological History of the warren may be of interest
http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/geohistory.html

[inspector_blakey]

Pfft.

Speaking from first-hand experience, any old clown can get a PhD these days (that's the only possible explanation I can find for mine, anyway).

And either I've had too much to drink (which I admit is possible at the moment) or the perspective in that picture is really messing with me. I had no idea IKB^▸ (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) was as tall as an HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

[JayMac]

Well he is often refered to as 'The Little Giant'

 

(either someone has gone to the trouble of Photoshop-ing a shadow for IKB^▸ (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) or the picture was humourously modified to superimpose him over a pedestrian to highlight the person responsible for some of the geological consequences affecting the Warren!)

[Timmer]

I'm sure IKB^▸ (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) would have loved HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) as they really do get the best out of the railway he built.