6
S.D.King
However, it remains to be seen whether the lack of money, bureaucratic
inflexibility and a lack of co-ordination at all levels (Carter, 1990) will allow any such
changes to take place. But co-existence can only be achieved through an improved
knowledge and a greater understanding of the coastal environment.
Legislation
Traditionally, coastal management has centred on the problems of flooding and erosion,
and this is recognised and reflected within the legislation governing the coast in
England and Wales over the past century. Flooding has usually been covered within Sea
Defence that may be defined as:
protection of human life and property in coastal settlements and industrial areas
against sea and tidal flooding.
Similarly, erosion has been covered by Coast Protection, defined as:
protection of coastal settlements, industrial areas, bridges, roads and railway
embankments from erosion and encroachment by the sea. (Solway Firth Partnership,
1996)
Thus, flooding and erosion have been treated as two different phenomena,
although one may cause or lead to the other.
Sea Defence (Flooding)
In 1907, a Royal Commission was appointed to review land drainage. This resulted in
the 1930 Land Drainage Act that included measures for defence against seawater. Fortynine Catchment Boards were set up to tackle the more urgent problems arising from
previous neglect of sea defences. However, these boards could only operate in
connection with main rivers, and with the advent of World War II nine years later,
defences again fell into neglect. In 1948, the River Boards Act reorganised the
Catchment Boards, reducing their number to 34. Only five years later, one of the
greatest storms to hit Britain in recent history occurred, with over 1200 breaches along
2000km of coast (Whittle, 1989). The 1953 storm raised important questions about the
effectiveness of England’s sea defences, and the Waverley Committee reporting on the
storm recommended that future defences had to be built to try and withstand tides of
similar magnitude to those of 1953. In 1961, the Land Drainage Act extended the River
Boards powers to construct sea defence measures wherever the need arose. In 1973, the
River Boards were integrated into ten regional Water Authorities with responsibilities
for water supply, sewerage, river management and regulatory functions. Flood and sea
defence became the responsibility of Land Drainage Committees funded by County
Councils. In 1976, the Land Drainage Act gave permissive powers for sea defence
against flooding to Local Water Authorities and Local Authorities which were overseen
by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).
S.D.King
However, it remains to be seen whether the lack of money, bureaucratic
inflexibility and a lack of co-ordination at all levels (Carter, 1990) will allow any such
changes to take place. But co-existence can only be achieved through an improved
knowledge and a greater understanding of the coastal environment.
Legislation
Traditionally, coastal management has centred on the problems of flooding and erosion,
and this is recognised and reflected within the legislation governing the coast in
England and Wales over the past century. Flooding has usually been covered within Sea
Defence that may be defined as:
protection of human life and property in coastal settlements and industrial areas
against sea and tidal flooding.
Similarly, erosion has been covered by Coast Protection, defined as:
protection of coastal settlements, industrial areas, bridges, roads and railway
embankments from erosion and encroachment by the sea. (Solway Firth Partnership,
1996)
Thus, flooding and erosion have been treated as two different phenomena,
although one may cause or lead to the other.
Sea Defence (Flooding)
In 1907, a Royal Commission was appointed to review land drainage. This resulted in
the 1930 Land Drainage Act that included measures for defence against seawater. Fortynine Catchment Boards were set up to tackle the more urgent problems arising from
previous neglect of sea defences. However, these boards could only operate in
connection with main rivers, and with the advent of World War II nine years later,
defences again fell into neglect. In 1948, the River Boards Act reorganised the
Catchment Boards, reducing their number to 34. Only five years later, one of the
greatest storms to hit Britain in recent history occurred, with over 1200 breaches along
2000km of coast (Whittle, 1989). The 1953 storm raised important questions about the
effectiveness of England’s sea defences, and the Waverley Committee reporting on the
storm recommended that future defences had to be built to try and withstand tides of
similar magnitude to those of 1953. In 1961, the Land Drainage Act extended the River
Boards powers to construct sea defence measures wherever the need arose. In 1973, the
River Boards were integrated into ten regional Water Authorities with responsibilities
for water supply, sewerage, river management and regulatory functions. Flood and sea
defence became the responsibility of Land Drainage Committees funded by County
Councils. In 1976, the Land Drainage Act gave permissive powers for sea defence
against flooding to Local Water Authorities and Local Authorities which were overseen
by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).