Eastchurch Gap Cliff Erosion On The Isle Of Sheppey. Kent. www.eastchurchgap.blogspot.co.uk/
Original work started Weds 6th April 2016
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Original work started Weds 6th April 2016
Original work started Weds 6th April 2016
What the paper fails to mention is the fact that the cliffs have already faulted in the 2 weeks since the matting has been put down. As for a coastal path, really ? have the engineers of this scheme got no idea on cliff erosion ?
ReplyDeleteHi Mr Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteYour right - but please remember we are tackling this problem at the eleventh hour and it was never ever seen as a cure for the erosion but just a way to try and reduce it - playing for time at an acceptably reduced cost for both materials and labour content.
It should also be noted that a lot of time and effort has being put in by the community committee who secured funding for this pilot scheme there has been NO cash contribution from anyone here and that is thanks to the full support from our own Parish Council together with the full support from Swale Council who's engineers examined what was proposed together with the costs involved and were prepared to fund thIS very low cost project as a pilot scheme...
As a community we had little choice because as far as I am aware no land is being made by the sea on Sheppey - its all washing away.
Because of the costs involved to protect any coastal area the in the past no one has done anything in our community area and it has been allowed to erode and just fall into the sea.
So much good agricultural land has been lost without much comment being raised in the press or on TV - it's a tragedy
Our community is now trying to take positive action in what we are doing and also we hope to create a record of how this venture works over time for other possible communities so there are many very positive reasons to try this scheme which is why it's a "pilot scheme".
I appreciate your comments as no doubt will others however we can all be negative (which is easy) but to try and achieve a positive contribution and outcome is harder to do.
I am sure I speak for our community saying we would I welcome you at any meetings we have to offer any positive ways we could deter or reduce the cliff erosion problem here for our community. Many people in different areas of the country are looking at this pilot scheme to see if it can be used to help them?
Over 6000 views on this site shows the interest.
Once again I ask you - if you have some positive ideas please kindly step forward and help.
My phone number is clearly listed on this page.
Regards Peter Bruce. - as shown on this page I post as Broken Wing...
Hi Peter,
DeleteI'm sorry you read my comment as being negative, I'd prefer to call it realistic. As you rightly say this is a "pilot scheme" paid for with public money, with that said it's only fair to let people know what is really going on, and to not mention the faulting and recent erosion is very deceptive. Surely this scheme should highlight the ongoing erosion in accordance with your community project rather than gloss it over and pretend everything is okay. As for the defences themselves, I strongly believe that the matting now being laid down will slow drying times of the cliff and aid the clay in holding yet more water thus speeding up erosion. As for vegetation holding the clay together, a walk between Minster and Eastchurch would suggest otherwise. Many people are unaware that the clay cliffs of Sheppey are the best place in the whole of Europe to witness rotational slips of this magnitude due to the nature of the clay. The cliffs grow taller due to the wave cut foreshore platform being reduced, meanwhile the forever growing cliffs gain in weight which when wet cause base rotations which can occur without warning and as far as 40 metres back from the top of the cliffs. It's important that you all realise and understand the dangers of residing on the edge of a clay cliff, should a house or two go over the edge while people are sleeping then the results would be truly tragic. I wish I had a solution to your problem or something more positive I could say to you but that's unfortunately not the case. I wish you all the best of luck in your 11th hour.
Hi again. Thanks for the reply. We have had many meetings and the residents concerned are all aware of the danger to their homes and safety but we can only try to see what can be done. Incidentally hundreds of Willows will also be planted on the slope through the matting and also at the top in the hope the moisture will be lessened by their roots demand on the water. Willows take up a lot of water and we are using local Willow whips to do this.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a small slip just above the laid matting since it was laid but the material which fell has been held by the laid matting so it's doing its job...
Keep watching the Blog to see the progress of the project. Regards Peter.