The Poole and Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Policy is now out for consultation.
The message for Poole Bay, better known as Bournemouth seafront, is hold the line. East of Point House in Southbourne the report uses the phrase ‘robust defence’.
Christchurch Bay, Mudeford to Barton-on-Sea, looks less safe.
The recommendation for Mudeford Spit is “allow gradual rollback in line with sea level rise”. Hordle cliff also faces a “natural rollback’ and at Naish Farm where there is crumbling cliff there would be ‘limited intervention’.
However, the report does see a need for long term defence of Highcliffe Castle.
There is a SMP roadshow today at the Beachcomber Cafe in Barton-on-Sea and on Thursday at Bournemouth’s BIC.
This is the first full report since the National Trust announced that it was to cease defending the shoreline near Studland.
Any decisions taken as a result of this report will affect the coast path on each side of Bournemouth in the next few years.
