Project overview

In storm events or high tide and easterly winds, the town centre’s current defences suffer from waves overtopping the sea wall. This is an ongoing issue and has diverse implications for Swanage, impacting the environment, businesses, and tourism.  The impacts of these events on Swanage have demonstrated the need for improved protection. 

Dorset Council in partnership with the Environment Agency, Dorset Coast Forum and Swanage Town Council are looking at options for coastal flood defences to help protect the town of Swanage.  

The scheme aims to provide a permanent flood defence scheme to Shore Road and the Mowlem Slipway area, The Square, The Parade and Lower High Street. This central location currently relies on seasonal emergency temporary flood defences which are deployed each winter by the Environment Agency to help protect the town from high tides and storms.   

Dorset Council’s Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Team (FCERM), supported by JBA Consultants are leading the progression of a single scheme and an outline business case which will be submitted to the Environment Agency to bid for government funding for the scheme.   

If funding is obtained, there will be further consultation with community and specific groups as the project develops. Design proposals for the flood protection scheme will be shared through direct contact, structured workshops and open community consultation events led and facilitated by Dorset Coast Forum on behalf of the project.  

#CoastalInnovation #CoastalConnection

Project overview

As a low-lying coastal town, Weymouth is at risk of coastal flooding and erosion from the sea and flooding from surface water and the river. If a severe weather event takes place in Weymouth, thousands of homes and businesses could be flooded.

In accordance with climate change predictions (UKCP18), sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events will happen more often and may be more severe. It is predicted that in 100 years, the average sea level can be more than one metre higher than it is today. This means that all high tides and low tides will be one meter higher, too.

As part of the Weymouth Harbour and Esplanade Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Scheme, Dorset Council is working with Dorset Coast Forum, the Environment Agency, Wessex Water, BCP Council and WSP (engineering consultants), to develop an Outline Business Case (OBC).

An OBC is a document required by the UK Government Treasury when government funds are requested. The OBC will investigate costs and benefits of a range of options, then recommend the preferred options to improve Weymouth’s resilience to coastal flood and erosion risks.

This OBC project will build on earlier work carried out by Dorset Council and the Environment Agency exploring possible options for managing coastal flood and erosion risk in Weymouth. The earlier work recommended a phased approach to improve resilience in three stages:

• up to 2042
• up to 2062
• up to 2122 and beyond

The OBC being produced will apply for funding for the first phase of work to take the project up to 2042. It will prioritise sections of harbour walls that are currently lower, or close to the end of their design life, and sections identified along the esplanade which are at the most risk of erosion.

Managing impacts associated with any proposed improvements is a key consideration. These include minimising disruption as far as practicable to businesses, harbour operations, residents, and the community of Weymouth, and managing impacts on fisheries and the environment.  As part of the project, we will also be delivering exciting new regeneration opportunities for Weymouth.

#CoastalInnovation #CoastalConnection

Project overview

Swanage has a combined series of distinct coastal management schemes underway, led by Dorset Council’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) team and you can follow project updates on these pages.

Coastlines need to be managed to prevent natural processes, such as erosion and flooding, destroying vulnerable areas of the coast. Often the coastline is used by people for homes, agriculture, industry, tourism or other businesses. In addition, there are many coastal areas which are sites of natural beauty or are od special scientific interest. A failure to prevent erosion and flooding can lead to a loss of life or property.

With climate change leading to rising sea levels and more extreme weather, the coastline may become increasingly vulnerable.

There are different options available for managing coastlines:

• hard engineering, where man-made structures such as groynes are built to stop longshore drift
• soft engineering, where more natural processes are used, such as regenerating the sand on the beach (known as beach nourishment or recharge).

Swanage Beach Management Plan (BMP) is a plan for managing a beach at a local level for the purpose of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM), to maintain or improve the conditions of the beach as both a means of coastal protection and as a recreational resource.

#CoastalInnovation #CoastalConnection

Project overview

 Working collectively has enabled there to be a proactive approach to reducing the issues at both Swanage and Studland Bay. Organisations, representative partners and businesses included in this partnership approach are:

• Dorset Council
• National Trust
• Maritime & Coastguard Agency
• Marine Police
• Swanage Town Council
• Dorset Coast Forum
• Studland Parish Council
• RNLI
• Representatives from Jet Ski community
• Sea swimming representative
• Personal Watercraft Partnership
• Poole Harbour Commissioners

Please note the issue is not just around personal watercraft/jet skis but can be other maritime users as well. Also, it is often jet skis and other motorised watercraft coming from elsewhere that cause the issues.

The Bylaw – Seaside Pleasure Boats

The 1989 Seaside Pleasure Boat Byelaw (reviewed in 2013) is currently in operation. Originally a Purbeck District Council Bylaw, it is now the responsibility of Dorset Council. It is Dorset Council’s responsibility to issue a contract to deploy, lift and repair the 5 knot max speed marker buoys in these areas.

The Swanage Pier Byelaws 2012

The Swanage Pier Byelaws 2012 is still in place and refers to the Management of Vessels while entering, leaving or within the Harbour. The key section associated with this work includes:

The Master of every Vessel within the Harbour shall navigate that Vessel:

1.a) with care and caution and at a speed so as not to endanger the lives of, or cause injury to, persons, or endanger the safety of, or cause damage to, any other Vessel or any mooring or any other property of any kind whatsoever, whether real or personal.

Improvements now implemented by the partnership

• Standardised incident recording form and creation of a central database that is held by the Marine Police for all partners to directly report incidents.
• Regular patrols during the season – a contract with two waterfront residing businesses at both Studland and Swanage. They will be providing regular water safety patrols from Easter until mid-September, with increased patrols during school holidays. They will provide education and awareness to jet ski and small motorised boats or other sea users on safety.
• Signage at both Studland and Swanage with clear maps and information.
• Water safety leaflets for users of jet skis and small motorised boats – with clear key messages.
• A dedicated information webpage for jet skiers and motorised boat users wishing to visit the area.
• A communications plan to ensure that key messages are correctly distributed and are clear for all partners.
• Extra 5 knot max speed marker buoys – an increased number of buoys at both locations to ensure they are closer together making them easier and clearer to see.
• Two Marine Police Officers newly trained on jet ski riding to ensure they can communicate effectively with jet skiers in the area.