Situated along the Medmerry coastline in West Sussex, the caravan parks in Selsey and Bracklesham Bay have long been suffering from years of flooding.
However, on 4 November, a £28 million coastal realignment scheme, known as the Medmerry scheme was completed.
The defence scheme was set up in order to protect the high-risk flooding coastline by building important new sea defences inland, particularly between Selsey and Bracklesham.
This scheme was completed with the valuable help of important community members, who were concerned by the damage of previous floods and were interested in a long-lasting, effective solution this time around.
The process of managed realignment ultimately refers to the building of the new defences inland from the coast, while allowing a new land or intertidal habitat to form.
In effect this means letting the tidal waters flood inland to a managed flood plain, effectively relieving the pressure on the sea wall.
The work for this scheme started during September 2011. It is hoped that in addition to improving the conditions for the two caravan sites, the scheme will also improve the standard flood protection for over three hundred homes.
Commenting on the Medmerry scheme, the Environment Minister Dan Rogerson, said: “This new scheme will support the local community – not only minimising their flood risk but boosting growth through the new habitat and tourism opportunities.”
After the flood defences, work is also being done to finish and repair the 10km of new footpaths, cycleways and bridleways that cross the site, which should allow easier travel for everyone.
