County Council Cabinet approves strategy to manage Cumbria’s coastline

Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet have today (Thursday 18th March) approved a new strategy for managing coastal flooding and erosion risks along the Cumbrian coastline over the next century.

The Cumbria Coastal Strategy recommends long term sustainable solutions and will be used to make the case for government funding for coastal management defence schemes in the future.

Over the last three years, Cumbria County Council has worked together with the Cumbria Coast Protection Authorities (District Councils), Environment Agency, Natural England and Network Rail, as well as a number of other key organisations, to develop the strategy for the future management of the coast. The consultants Jacobs were commissioned by the County Council to help develop the strategy, and the project was funded by the Environment Agency.

The County Council has also worked with local communities at key stages of the strategy development, with engagement allowing everyone to help determine how their coastline should be managed.

The County Council will continue to work alongside the relevant Coast Protection Authority or infrastructure provider to support delivery of the actions and future schemes set out within the strategy.  Much of the study work proposed in the strategy will justify the viability of future projects and will result in further investment in the Cumbria coastline.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: “To ensure we fully understand and include the impacts on communities, the local economy and environment, the council has carried out two rounds of public engagement and also engaged with a number of partners and stakeholders to help shape and inform the content of the strategy.

“I’m delighted that the Environment Agency and the five Cumbria Coast Protection Authorities are all fully supportive of the strategy. This will put us in the best place possible to secure funding from the government for future flood and coastal risk management schemes and also help secure national funds to contribute to the cost of defences.”

More information on the Cumbria Coastal Strategy, and the proposed approaches and future activities recommended, are available on the project website at www.cumbria.gov.uk/ccs/