On Tuesday 12 December there was a public drop-in session at Havant Civic Centre about the technical report into options for the sea defences between Langstone Millpond and Wade Lane. The session was well-attended, with 71 members of the public coming to find out more, ask questions and express their opinions about the proposals.
Representatives from the Working Group (Coastal Partners, Natural England, Environment Agency, Chichester Harbour Conservancy) and the co-author of the report were on hand to answer questions and listen to the views of attendees. Feedback was gathered and a wide range of opinions noted. Of those that left written feedback and expressed a preference for a solution, the majority were in favour of a bridge or boardwalk that balances access with the need to address the declining health of the harbour.
The technical report suggests a number of options for the future management of the site, phased into short, medium and long term. Visual representations of the short to medium term options were available to view, you can see these below (note, at this point these are options only and would require relevant consents from landowners and statutory authorities):
Build a Bridge
What?
- Build a bridge over the failed section of sea wall.
- Maintain/repair the sea wall immediately adjacent to the pond.
Estimated Cost: £132,000,
Lifespan: 25 years.
Advantages:
- Maintains full harbourside access.
- Promotes the environmental health of the harbour.
Disadvantages:
- Maintenance of the bridge.
- Retention of some hard sea defences.
Build a Boardwalk
What?
- Build a boardwalk slightly inland of the failed section of sea wall.
- Maintain/repair the sea wall immediately adjacent to the pond.
Estimated Cost: £140,000.
Lifespan: 25 years.
Advantages:
- Maintains harbourside access.
- Promotes the environmental health of the harbour.
Disadvantages:
- Maintenance of the boardwalk.
- Landowner consultation/consent required – may take longer to arrange a solution.
Rebuild the Sea Wall
What?
- Carry out like-for like repair of the failed section of the sea wall.
- Maintain/repair the sea wall immediately adjacent to the pond.
Estimated Cost:
- £144,000 for initial rebuild.
- Significant ongoing costs to maintain – estimated whole life cost £863,000.
Advantages:
- Maintains harbourside access.
Disadvantages:
- Further deterioration of the harbour’s natural environment.
- Erosion of saltmarsh.
- Significant future maintenance/repair costs, a like-for like structure is at high risk of future failure.
- No resilience to sea-level rise.
- The wall will over-top at high spring tides and storm events.
Re-route the Footpath
What?
- Re-route the footpath away from the failed sea wall.
- No repairs to the sea wall.
- Managed transition of millpond and paddock to harbour habitat.
Cost: £0-£120,000 depending on route.
Lifespan: Long-term solution.
Advantages:
- A long-term solution resilient against sea-level rise and climate change.
- Promotes the environmental health of the harbour.
Disadvantages:
- Reduced harbourside access.
- Reduced access to millpond.
- Landowner consultation/consent required.
Do Nothing
What?
- Take no action, allow the sea wall to fail and the path to erode.
Estimated Cost: £0
Lifespan: N/A
Advantages:
- Allows sediment into the harbour, promoting harbour health.
Disadvantages:
- Loss of harbourside access.
- Unsightly debris from the failed wall in the National Landscape of Chichester Harbour.
What next?
The Working Group will meet in early 2024, after which we expect a decision to be made about the next steps.
Chichester Harbour Conservancy is committed to finding a solution that balances recreational requirements and access to the harbour with the pressing need to address the declining health and condition of the harbour.