Coast protection
This section of the website
provides detailed information about the work carried out by the
coastal protection and coastal defence section of Sefton Council.
Currently the majority of this work is monitoring coastal processes
and coastal change.
A number of reports are available
within this section that detail the condition of coastal defences
and changes to the coastal processes and coastal topography.
More detailed information about
coastal processes is available on the
Sefton Coast Partnership
website (links to an external website) within the
shoreline management section.
Background
The Sefton coast, which extends over
36 kilometres (21 miles), comprises soft and granular estuary
deposits of sand, silt, clay and peat. There are no outcrops
of rock on the shoreline. Hence, the forces of nature readily
mould it, so the shoreline is constantly changing in response to
the fluctuating influence of wind and water and as a result of
human activity. Its overall shape derives from two major
river estuaries, the Mersey and the Ribble. At Crosby and Southport
the shoreline has been partly fixed in place by coastal defence
work. However, the natural forces remain at work and sand
drift at Crosby is tending to bury parts of the sea wall, whilst
sand dunes are developing in front of the sea wall north of Weld
Road, Birkdale.
Given our reliance upon both soft
and hard defences we have to take our role in relation to coastal
defence very seriously. As part of this role we have compiled a
report called
'Coastal Defence Issues and Strategy'. The
purpose of the report is to present a comprehensive coastal defence
strategy for the whole Sefton shoreline taking full account of the
findings and recommendations of the two
Shoreline Management Plans (1999) developed for
the Liverpool Bay and Ribble Estuary coastal sedimentary
cells.
The second generation of
Shoreline Management Plans are currently being produced. To find
out more information and how to get involved please visit the
North West and North Wales
Coastal Group website.
As part of our Coastal
Defence remit we are also active members of the Sefton Coast
Partnership that seeks to co-ordinate policies and actions on the
coast and resolve any potential conflicts between members
objectives. Visit the Sefton Coast Partnership
website for further information on coastal processes and
information of the Sefton Coast in a wider context.
Last Updated on 5/14/2010