Sheppey cliff erosion: Protection work moves closer

• 2 hours ago
 
• From the sectionKent

Image captionTrees and other vegetation help absorb a surfeit of surface water, reducing the risk of erosion

Residents near a cliff edge on the Isle of Sheppey that is falling into the sea are one step away from a lifeline that could buy them valuable time.

Those at risk at Eastchurch Gap are due to meet English Nature on Tuesday, when they hope to get permission to go ahead with work to stabilise the land.

The £30,000 Swale council-funded scheme is intended to slow down erosion.

But there is no sign of an agreement between the council and Environment Agency over long-term protection.

People living in some of the 16 homes under direct threat say that up to 35ft of land has been eroded since 2000 at one spot.

Image captionThe Environment Agency said the rural area could not justify the millions of pounds needed for defences

Swale councillor Peter Whiting says the money is available for the interim work, but cannot go ahead until residents and parish council members have reassured English Nature on some outstanding issues.

"Once that's agreed, they can get on with the work pretty much straight away," he said.

Cost 'not justified'

The plan involves the use of biodegradable matting to hold the rain-soaked soil together until newly planted vegetation has matured sufficiently to absorb the surface water caused by increased rainfall.

But the Environment Agency says a more permanent solution for so few homes cannot be justified.

A spokesman said: "Government funding for flood and coastal risk management needs to demonstrate that the benefits of any actions outweigh the costs.

"The coastline on the north of the Isle of Sheppey is mainly rural and only includes a small number of houses and caravan parks at risk.

"This area cannot currently justify the millions of pounds required to build and maintain the infrastructure and defences to help manage the rate of cliff erosion which has recently been experienced."