Future options for Cuckmere Haven

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Future options for Cuckmere Haven

In order to determine the future of Cuckmere haven, four flood management schemes have been created for the estuary. 

One of these options is to completely allow nature to take its course and do nothing. This is a good option for minimal interference to the surrounding wildlife and less costly as other options, however, the unmanaged re-alignment will increase the risk of flooding: the defences will be allowed to deteriorate, which will be sped up by sea levels rising, high tides and storms, which will batter the defences. Not only will the risk of flooding increase, but also leaving the river to take its own path will mean the footpath and beach will be off limits as it will be very dangerous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another possible option is to maintain the existing flood defences.  Although preserving the current defences seems like a good option for keeping the estuary visitor friendly, the amount of protection that the current flood banks provide at their current height will not sustain the rising sea levels caused by global warming and other environmental factors, therefore maintaining the defences to a suitable standard would be very costly as it would need to happen often.

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 A similar but superior idea is to actually improve the existing defences by adding extra height to the flood defences down the river in order to reduce the flood risk. This plan is ideal for the regular visitors as the footpath wouldn’t be flooded by the rising sea levels, but may also come at a price. This idea is also quite a sustainable option, but this depends on the rate in which the sea level is rising each year.

 

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