Contact details: Richard Atkins Enterprise, Tourism and Environment

1. Southend-on-Sea Shoreline Strategy Plan  The draft Strategy Plan – what do you think? What is a “Shoreline Strategy Plan” and why do we need one? Southend Borough Council (SBC) have powers to manage the coastline within its jurisdiction and we wish to do so in a coordinated and sustainable manner, taking account of economic, social, environmental and technical factors. Our coastline is at risk from coastal erosion and the low lying areas are also at risk from coastal flooding. Climate change, particularly sea level rise, will increase the risk of coastal flooding and erosion in the future. Coastal erosion and / or flooding has the potential to cause damage to businesses, homes, recreation, tourism and important wildlife habitats located at the coast in Southend-on-Sea. Coastal defences along the Southend-on-Sea coastal frontage have been in existence for at least the past 100 years. These coastal defences need to be managed in a proactive and coordinated way so that we can effectively manage the risk posed by coastal erosion and flooding. We have therefore developed the Southend-on-Sea Shoreline Strategy Plan (“the Strategy”) to set out a long term plan to manage the coastal flood and erosion risk at Southend-on-Sea. Although the Strategy covers the next 100 years, it will be regularly reviewed and updated (approximately every 10 years) so that the Strategy reflects latest policy and takes account of the latest data and knowledge. Therefore, the Strategy may change as a result of future reviews, and continued monitoring of the shoreline will guide future revisions. How does the Strategy fit in with other flood and coastal risk management plans? The Environment Agency (EA) has previously consulted upon the Draft Essex and South Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan and Thames Estuary 2100 (both of which are available through their website). Our Strategy develops in more detail the preferred approach put forward by these high level plans for our shoreline. Following approval of this Strategy, schemes can be designed and implemented at the local level, subject to the availability of funding.  Plan of sections along frontage How have we developed the Strategy? In developing a Strategy, we must comply with guidance set out by the EA and the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). In particular, we must ensure that our Strategy provides best value for money as we will likely require public funds for its implementation. The Southend-on-Sea shoreline has been split into 11 sections (refer to Plan on the back page of this leaflet), to take into account different ownership of the existing defence and the specific risks and assets protected. Our proposed approach to manage the future coastal flood and erosion risk is outlined in the Draft Strategy Plan presented overleaf. Contact details: Richard Atkins Enterprise, Tourism and Environment Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue | Southend-on-Sea SS2 6ER What is the preferred draft Strategy? The preferred draft Strategy is to maintain the existing shoreline so that we can resist coastal erosion. In addition, we will raise the defences on the mainland in stages as necessary to ensure a reasonable standard of protection against coastal flood risk as sea levels rise in the future. What are your views on the draft Strategy? We are consulting on the Draft Strategy Plan so that, where feasible, we can obtain and incorporate your views into the Final Strategy Plan. If you would like to obtain further information on the Strategy, please go to our website (details below) or contact us directly. If you wish to express any view on the draft Strategy, please contact us in writing at the address below. Website for more information: Website TBC

2.  Details of the draft Strategy plan