How sustainable is the current management of the coastline at Barton-on-sea, Hampshire?
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Introduction
How sustainable is the current management of the coastline at Barton-on-sea, Hampshire? The area of Barton-on-sea has had a management strategy since the 1960?s. However, eroding processes such as rotational cliff slumping are still acting on the cliffs there. For any management strategy to be truly sustainable, it must balance social, environmental and economic advantages and disadvantages. If, on balance, there are more fundamental advantages than disadvantages then the strategy may be judged sustainable. The social advantages of the management scheme are that areas of the cliff top can be used, because they are stable, for facilities such as car parks, recreational grounds, or visitor centres. All of which can be used by the public and tourists alike without the fear of them being vulnerable to the cliff collapsing. ...read more.
Middle
This links in with the fact that insurance companies will not have to pay out large claims for lost housing. A beach will impact the locals greatly, mainly because as tourists spend money at local amenities, the revenue of the businesses will increase thus allowing them to expand or employ. In turn this increases tax which can be used for education, transport, health and housing. Environmentally, a stable cliff means a stable habitat for nesting birds and local animals. The beach at the foot of the cliff is also less polluted due to a lack of building debris from collapsed housing. With a beach and a stable cliff, the whole area will look more attractive for visitors and locals. ...read more.
Conclusion
Economically the maintenance and renewal costs for the coastal defences and overall management are very high linking in with the taxes being raised to pay for the numerous defences Barton has. An increase in taxes will result in the locals having less personal disposable income. Therefore less money is spent in shops and local services so businesses may struggle financially. To conclude the numerous advantages outweigh the relatively small scale disadvantages thus making the management scheme at Barton sustainable. However, the defences at Bournemouth still cause a problem for the coastline at Barton. If the groynes are removed at Bournemouth then the effect on Barton would be great therefore this is the best option for the coastal management strategy at Barton. ...read more.
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